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JAN 22 194 

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fol ae Bale 


Kvangelical Association. - 


5 eyORUA KK Bik, 


Vol. I. 
—= 1750—1850, -— 


es 


Authorized by General Conference: examined and approved 
by the Book Committee. 


SURE NA Sc 
COPYRIGHT BY THomAS & MaTriLL, 
1894. 
Geek, 


EVANGELICAL PUBLISHING HOUSE, | 
CLEVELAND, 0, HARRISBURG, PA. | 


PREFACE. 


The history of the Christian Church is next to the Holy Scriptures, 
one of the most instructive and useful studies, and although the writing 
of such history is a very difficult and responsible task, yet it is also a 
highly interesting one. The same is true with regard to the history of 
any branch of the Church. It is profoundly interesting to observe and 
record the conflict between light and darkness—the kingdom of Christ and 
the kingdom of Satan—and to observe the vicissitudes of the battle 
whilst we are prophetically assured of the final, glorious victory of the 
Lord Jesus Christ, the great Head of the Church. 

The responsibility of the Church historian is also very great; he must 
portray the progress of this conflict and the developments involved in the 
course of the militant Church life correctly, impartially and as completely as 
possible, for the history of an ecclesiastical communion is to her a great 
and sacred, treasure. By it she may learn to understand her calling 
from the historical standpoint, she may also discover her faults in the past 
and amend them in the future, and thus her history will have a molding 
and determining influence upon her denominational character in the future. 
Hence, the worst and most harmful of falsifiers would be those, who falsify 
a Church history. 

But who comprehends and appreciates the labor and patience required to 
discover all the sources and scattered fragments of such a history and 
arrange them, both logically and chronologically, in such a manner that 
the whole shall constitute an appreciable and comprehensible presentation 
which wiil enable the reader to enter into 1t, and view it not only in its 
outward but also in its inward course ? 

This applies with especial emphasis to the compilation of the history of 
the Evangelical Association. This history is more particularly of great 
importance to the present rising generation, and perhaps still more to 
succeeding generations, who are separated on account of age from the 
fathers and mothers of this “ Israel,’”’ who have nearly all of them entered 
into the rest that remaineth for the people of God, whilst the remaining 
few are ready “to put off this tabernacle” of clay. And in this age of 
commotion when time and business developments fly onward with almost 


2 PREFACE. 


cyclonic velocity, the traditions of the Association would soon be irre- 
trievably lost, unless they are preserved in the archives of a faithfully 
written history. 

Thus it is seen that without a written history the Association would 
finally become uncertain concerning herself, and it would soon become 
impossible to comply with the biblical exhortation: ‘ Look unto the rock 
whence ye are hewn and the pit whence ye are digged.” (Isaiah 51, 1.) 
The recollections of “the wonderful works of God” which He has wrought 
for this Church and the inspiration produced by them, as well as the 
adoration due unto Him who is the author of all good, would cease, which 
would be an incalculable and irretrievable loss. 


Already many years ago the fathers in the Church realized the press- 
ing need and the importance of such a history, hence it was a subject of 
earnest discussion in the General Conference in 1843, which resulted in 
the appointment of John Dreisbach as historian, who was instructed with 
the assistance of the presiding elders of the Annual Conferences and the 
Bishops to begin such a compilation, but as Mr. Dreisbach received very 
little help—there being no plan nor concerted action for the collection of 
historical matter—he could give only a summary review of this history up 
to the year 1830, which he produced chiefly from his own recollections and 
observations. The General Conference in 1847 then appointed Adam 
Ettinger to continue the work, but he soon afterward withdrew from the 
Church. 


The following General Conference then instructed the editors of the 
Church papers to continue the compilation of the history thus begun, 
which, however, on account of the frequent change of editors, was not 
carried out. In the Spring of 1854 the then West Pa. Annual Conference 
requested William W. Orwig to undertake the compilation of this work, 
with the consent of the other Conferences. Bro. Orwig then entered upon 
this task in the month of July 1854, and, in about two and a half years, 
completed the first volume, comprising the period from 1800 until 1845. 
In this work the historical compilation made by Dreisbach, and the Christ- 
liche Botschafter from the year 1836 onward, proved excellent helps, yet 
Bro. Orwig found the task to be a very difficult one. On account of the 
great lack of records, especially of the earlier times of the Association — 
this history remained in many respects defective, and the need of revision 
and improvement made itself felt, which fact Bro. Orwig himself — 


PREFACE. 3 


especially in his latter years—acknowledged both privately and publicly. 
Hence, the General Conference of 1875 appointed the then Bishop R. Dubs 
to undertake this revision, and at its next session (1879), this appointment 
was renewed; but Dubs found it impossible to attend to this work on ac- 
count of the multiplicity of official labors. Thus the General Conference 
of 1887 found it necessary to adopt a peremptory resolution that the 
revision of the first volume and the compilation of a second volume be at 
once undertaken and that the Board of Publication appoint some one to 
this work. This Board then complied with this instruction by unanimous- 
ly adopting the following resolution : 


“ Resolved, that Reuben Yeakel be hereby appointed to revise the first 
volume of the history of the Evangelical Association, and to collect the 
further material for said history and write a second volume.” 


This appointment came to me quite unexpectedly, and I found myself 
entirely unprepared for the task. Upon acloser inspection of this work it 
soon became evident, that a revision of the first volume would necessarily 
involve also a re-arrangement of its plan. The volume to be revised com- 
mences with the year 1800 without presenting the preliminary history in 
which lay hid the historic conditions which caused the rise of the Evan- 
gelical Association. This lack had to be met in the revision. For this 
reason this volume begins about fifty years earlier and reaches in several 
respects still further back in order clearly to trace the historical tendencies 
toward the rise of such a movement. Moreover, the arrangement of Bro. 
Orwig’s book in sections and chapters, from Conference to Conference and 
from one General Conference to another, was too mechanical and arbitrary ; 
these intersections were frequently inadmissible because they failed to 
properly set forth the epoch making changes that occurred in the develop- 
ment of the Association. By the introduction of periods into this work, 
the correction of this fault, and thus also the revision of the plan of the 
book has been essayed. And in order to bring into proper prominence the 
more important details of the history, and give proper recognition of their 
value, short subdivisions or paragraphs with suitable captions have been 
introduced. Thereby the antiquated and almost useless custom of having 
chapters became superfluous. | 

I have introduced many citations from Orwig’s book, and whenever it 
was suitable I gave him proper credit, remembering my appointment did 
not prescribe a total re-arrangement and re-writing but rather a “revision” 


4 PREFACE. 


of the volume, hence the reader may notice some indications of Bro. Orwig’s 
style even where no footnotes could be introduced. This was due to the 
esteemed author of the first volume of our Church History. 


The following requirements are foundational to the existence and 
history of the Evangelical Association. 

1. Theclear proof that the existence of the Evangelical Association is 
historically justified—i. e. that mora] and ecclesiastical conditions and cir- 
cumstances required her rise and existence. 

2. That Divine Providence and guidance brought her into existence 
and hence she is the work of God. 

3. That her Church government is a legitimate one. To this belongs 
pre-eminently the proof that the ordination and authorization of her minis- 
try, and hence also her Church government is a Scriptural one, which has 
its confirmation from Christ, the Head of the Church, and consequently 
that the Evangelical Association stands in an essential union with Christ 
and the General Christian Church on earth. 


I do not hesitate to assert that this first volume of our history 
furnishes these required proofs. 


As our knowledge here on earth is “in part” only, so also is neces- 
sarily our work, and hence this book will have its imperfections. A perfect 
ideal could not be attained under the circumstances. But no effort has 
been spared; many late night-hours have been employed, and many prayers 
were sent up to the Head of the Church for His help and for His perma- 
nent blessing upon this difficult labor. We now present this volume to our 
esteemed readers, hoping that it may prove to them a rich blessing in the 
furtherance of the knowledge of the wonderful ways of Providence and 
the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. R. Y. 


CONTENTS. 





Pages. Pages. 

IPTEIGCR 2 co vide x edecae css eeeeenveae 1-4 Contents eeooveee8 @ee@e@0@8 0820808000802 8080808 5-10 
PRELIMINARY. 
The German Pennsylvanians....... 11} The Palatinates. .....cccvcccecees.. 14 
The first German Immigrants Fa Sa pales nu 12 Foes within & ce aie aha 6.6) 6.016 eeercrececcce 15 
hete SOEES FERN Ree DE Bie aad 2 Jacob Albright’s Father............ 15 
C q 13 The Schwenkfelders.........++..e0. 15 
orrespon ence eeeeeeeerereresrese es 2 e8e Concerning a few other Denomina- 

Motives for Immigration........... IS 1A ations eee ek. ie twewk eile Poekens . 16 


FIRST PERIOD, 1750-1800. 


Increase of Germans............... 
Ecclesiastical Conditions............ 17 
Mission of Rev. H. M. Muehlenberg. 18 
Rev. M. Schlatter and the Reformed 19 


Mennonites, Schwenkfelders and 
APUHOIS eR Uae cele cect esse cain sae oi as 20 
Religious Conditions............... 20 


Ph. Wilhelm Otterbein and Martin 


BOGUIN ors stec so ory seach sirens 34 
Bishop Francis Asbury’s Views..... 36 
Beginning of Methodism in America 37 
Aco AlOriphty ent cr sccce cds es 37 


His Marriage, Business and Family.. 38 
His Awakening and Severe Peniten- 


Pastor Helmuth’s Plaintive Let- TIALSStrngples ica, cca etace weer 39 
POLO eee Race cong entities ste es 22|Grace Triumphs— A Sound Con- 
Religious Condition of the Menno- VOTRIOU sicce a8 aieiess c.adoe ete ate he ota: els 40 

nites.. secceeseeoeee 20] Albright a Methodical Man......... 41 
Peterinenion of Comelnan: by the Benj. Abbott’s Labors—A Methodist 

PA Eres 04's ee eile vlc. s elaais. «6 2442, CHASE ay cain ais Ove 6 Wie vee eles oie he 41 
Increase of Intemperance.......... 25] Albright Joins the M. E. Church... 42 
Political Disorders........ccseccens 25 | His Zeal etc.—Is Made an Exhorter 43 
Unbelief, Deism, Atheism, etc...... 27} Fervent Prayer for his “German 
Hessian Prisoners of War.......... 28 Brethren. te ae vessiccas se cauens 6 44 
The first Native German-American The: Divine. Call civ wcccce ees es 44 

RS SE PAE IOMU Moanin bi c.0, s'o.6 slo's 6 90,0 5 010 29 | Hesitating. . ease aon 40 
Summary Review...........sssee0. 30| Delay, Ghactecnent Obedience: --. 46 
Peculiarities of German Pennsy]l- Ax Ghogen- Vessel... . asp vesecscesas 47 

ATIOTIN GF iiss co Saab ashe he ee BN: a « 30} An Itinerant Preacher and an Or- 
Some Peculiar Conditions of Things. 31} ganizer.. ecccccces 40 
Decadence of Religious Life......... 32 | Beginning of Mueorare Labora. . 48 
Testimonies of Schmucker, Kurtz, Why he did not Remain in the 

Be CAI eho asiy Sere oan a nis be ee So lee be OUUTCOMe es eccens Santee sate OU 

SECOND PERIOD, 1800-1816. 

The Spiritval Inception of the Ey. The First ‘‘ Big Meetings” ......... 54 
PB BMAW SS TAOIE tetas eo a16 a si dna stece's 6 op 51 | Slow and Difficult Progress—Another 
Formation of first Three Classes.... 52] Co-Laborer..............cccceoee, 55 
The Lord Provides—John Walter etc. 53| A very Important Council.......... 56 


[6] 

Pages. 
The Consecration of Albright....... 57 
APE ArAllelCOase wn. es sy cestedanes Sowa y f 
A Most Important Subject......... 58 
Several Arguments of the Opponents 59 
Short-sighted Scholars............4. 61 


The Outward Connection of the Ev. 
Association with the General 
Christian sOnaoren, vena ue ane + 5 62 

The So-called ‘‘Apostolic Succession” 63 

AisingularcAtlack yun. oss eecs ors 65 

The Validity of the Ministerial Ordi- 


nation of the Ev. Association..... 66 
Further Elucidation of the Subject. 68 
A Sterile Soil and little Fruit....... 70 


Pressing in a Northwesterly Direc- 
tion—A new Circuit Formed..... 
Albright and Spangler.......... 
Frequent Change of Preachers...... 72 
Ma Salaries cos eee eo ue Saas eee tre ad 
More Rapid Progress............... 
Karly Departure of Abr. Liesser.... 
Geo. Miller’s Conversion and Call to 
LOG COTTA IEEY se ae eine he aes te ee ee 73 
Miller Becomes an Itinerant Preacher 75 
The Work Becomes Influential...... 77 
Expressions from Satan’s Dictionary 78 
George Miller Presses Victoriously 


71 


CONTENTS. 


Pages. 
The <A ftervEilects Ss ceria vasa < Samo 
Characteristics of Albright......... 91 
An Rventinly earicsnsas os en see ces 96 
Miller Compiles the Discipline..... 96 
Dreisbach’s Severe Labors......... 97 
A Fierce Storm of Persecution..... 97 
Terrible Attack upon J. Dreisbach. 98 
Conference Session Omitted....... 100 
The Second Conference Session.... 100 


Publication of the Discipline Ordered 101 

The Name “ The So-called Albright 
People’ Adopted. <. <..%-csssn. ue 

Progress of the Warkesieand Ordi- 


nation of Ministers.. ee 1 1s Dae 
Third Conference Seen — Gone 
quests and a New Circuit........ 104 
Conference Rules.......... PO 105 
John Walter as a Poet............ 106 
A Remarkable Conversation be- 
tween Rev. John Dreisbach and 
Bishop Francis Asbury.......... 108 
Small Salaniess.. tsusa cesses eeu 110 
Fourth Conference—Instruction of 
Youth — Progress — Letter from 
J ohm Erb. 53.232 eh vase che tee ee 111 
Fifth Conference—Parsonages to be 
Built s:.25's2 vette eee een ceerns ae 114 


ONWALG IE. Patcame ies tig Sok ee ror 80 | Failure of the Mission in New York 115 
A Written Covenant...........0... 82 | Dreisbach’s Severe Conflict........ 116 
Subsidiary Contributions........... 83 | Pressing Forward—Pioneers....... “ELE 
The Original Conference............ 83 | Death of Rev. Matthew Betz...... 119 
The Conference Adopts a Name.... 84|John Dreisbach the first Presiding 
Albright Elected Bishop and Re- Felder. .3 ee case atea eee es serene 119 

quested to Compile a Discipline.. 85|A Year of Blessings............... 120 
Albright’s Health Declines......... 87 |Old Evangelical Camp-Meetings... 123 
Albright’s last “Big Meeting” and Eighth Conference Session — More 

Stationing of Preachers. ©. 6.54/...88 | Vietories.+s..s.4e setae cease 126 
Albright’s Course Nearly Finished— Dreisbach’s Visits to Philadelphia. 128 

His Retrospect.....5.. cna s on seen 88 | Happy Death of Rev. Geo. Miller— 

His Last Journey Homeward to Die Characteristics...... era gees tee 128 

—His Blessed Departure......... 891) Why'so Marly t'.07 00 2. tae 131 
Thé Solemn Birial <4 a0 0 oes eee 90 | Concluding Remarks to this Period 131 

THIRD PERIOD, 1816-1835. 
Important Conference Session..... 134 | Emigration to Ohio—Divine Punish- 
A Book Commission and General MONG EM fa ctaieteie-s Seager a 137 

Conference Delegates............ 135 |The First General Conference..... 138 
A very Important Conference Ses- The Name “ Evangelical Associa- 

BIOL craig 500% Va phe Saver iseme eae 135,1" Stion?*4Adoptad sis/<0 seen eee 139 


The Beginning in Ohio.. ........... 136 


136|The Second Edition of the Dis- 


CIpliNOwA ts Aiien cased tints veh aO 


CONTENTS. 


Pages. 

The First Official Hymn-book, and 
Close of the Session............. 141 
The Social Conference............. 142 


The First Meetinghouse of the 
Evangelical Association......... 
Strict Application of the Discipline 
at the Tenth Conference......... 
Struggles and Victories........... 
Eleventh Conference—Higher Sala- 


rieS—Progress.............00000 146 
Against Conformity to the Wold.. 147 
Happy Death of John Walter..... 148 
Stagnation of the Work begins— 

Twelfth Conference............. 150 
Departure of Solomon Miller...... 152 


Annual and General Conference 


MOLTO GLY o.. suri tns shee ies wee aes 152 
Retrogression of the Work........ 153 
Seven Preachers locate............ 155 
Still another Year of Trial........ . 158 
Changing for the Better........... 160 
The Dawn of a Better Day........ 161 


The Great Awakening at Orwigs- 
162 
Conversion of the Hammer Family 168 
John Seybert’s Report of this 
A WAKBIIN DS. Sule ah eae (6 be 
An Interesting Conference Session 
and Memorable Camp-Meeting. . 
The 18th Conference Session—John 
Seybert elected Presiding Elder.. 
The Chief Cause of the Small Sala- 


171 


175 


RICE Res ae Caer tisee Coke reece. Li 
The Annval and General Confer- 

ence held jointly............... 178 
Transactions of the Annual Conf... 180 


a 
Pages. 

Formation of the First Class in 
LODANON GP Abie il dard oo Gat 181 
Two Gonterences s: dss cies es corn 182 
Excellent Measures adopted....... 184 


Progress of the Western Conference 187 
One of the Most Blessed Years.... 188 
Beginning of the Awakening in 
Upper Milford, Lehigh Co., Pa... 189 
Conversion of Absalom B. Schaefer 192 
Progress, Persecution, Victories.... 194 
Important Transactions of the 
Fourth General Conference..... 198 
The Revision of the Articles of 
Wailibics sere re tee ion is es Se we aren 
Limitations of the Episcopacy..... 201 
The Chief Calling of the Association 202 
Conflicts and Victories in Upper 


Milford and Cedar Creek, Pa..... 203 
Difficulties and Divisions at Orwigs- 

DOLE nas edie Pee as eased sen 207 
Hamilton’s Attempt and Failure.. 208 
The Charitable Fund, etc.......... 211 


Reminiscences by Rev. Chas. Ham- 
mer of his Experiences in the 


Western Conference............. 212 
Increased Activity, Vehement Per- 
BECTON Sle ceo Pe Shae ek one 216 


John Seybert’s Report of Victories. 220 
Conversions Among the Schwenk- 
Peldeta arc on eeacee es wae eae Grek 223 
Another Blessed and Fruitful Year 225 
Occurrences in the Vicinity of Al- 


POTHLOW has as bites dibs Pele niga plete one 226 
Remarkable Salaries .............-. 228 
Reflections at the Close of this 

PETION ee voter ia cee es Aa) Set 229 


FOURTH PERIOD, 1835-1850. 


A very Prosperous Year........... 
Beginning of the Work in Allen- 


MO WIU AUC IOMIAUS, .'; ais ese encode ae 234 
The Fifth General Conference..... 237 
Founding of the Chr. Botschafter.. 240 
The Most Prosperous Year........ 243 
Introduction of Protracted Meet- 

Saran te dal ois oe wi ns ses Sale Males 244 


A Remarkable Camp-Meeting..... 245 
Increase—Death of John Roessner. 247 
The Sixth (a Special Session) of 
General Conference — Founding 
of a Publishing House........... 





231 | The Year 1837—Progress—Victories 253 


Beginning of the Work in Illinois. 257 


Beginning and Progress of the Work 
in Buffalo, N. Y 


Introduction of the 
Cause . 

Readetion: of the First Ghiecionsta 
DACIOLY? laa dusted arse ea ames Sea 

Formation of the MissaD En Society 
of the Ev. Assosiation........... 270 


ee 
269 


269 


Against the Misuse of Pabacas re 273 
Blessed Camp - Meetings and 
A Wakonings tic okies gan vod 274 


[8] 

Pages, 
Further Extension of the Work.... 379 
Beginning of the Work in Michigan 283 


Salutary Influence of the Chr. 
IBOLSCHASIE, Tec eat as ed coe aie 284 


The Seventh General Conference... 285 
A very Important Transaction..... 289 
Another very Momentous Trans- 

BOVION ornate se ae chaetieke recat 
293 
Yormation of Conf. Miss. Societies. 294 
further Prosperity of the Work... 296 
Commencement of Mohawk Mission 297 
New York City Mission............ 300 
Organization of Miss. Auxiliaries.. 301 
Further Extension of the Work.... 302 


Biographical Sketches............. 305 
Three Conference Sessions in 1840.. 308 
Vigorous Progress of the Work..... 309 
The First Mission in Baltimore, Md. 312 
More: ViGtOrTiOksen poo. ss sie tele rig ae | 
A Remarkable Occurrence......... 316 
Further Reports of Victories....... 317 
Beginning in Cleveland, Ohio...... 319 


Entrance into Chicago, Ill. ........ 
Prosperous Enterprises.........e0. 322 
Biographical Sketches........ peters 
Full Salary ! 


Advance in the West of the Cause 
of Missions 


Violent Attacks upon the Associ- 


eeeceereereese se @wreeeseeee 


RtION eee OSL R CON See ray one 328 
Blessed Mission Work..... Aa She 330 
Successful Camp-Meetings......... 332 
Bishop Seybert’s First Visit to Illi- 

nois and Wisconsin.........e8: 335 
Building Churches ....5...5.05 +5 336 


Prosperity of the Publishing House 337 
Concerning Education and Institu- 
tions of Learning..............+- 338 


CONTENTS. 


Pages. 

Provision with Regard to Certain 
Books 357 
Officers of the Publishing House... 359 
Election of Bishops ............+¢. 359 
Formation of the Illinois Conf. .... 361 


e@oeev eevee ee ee eevee eevee evnsese 


A Delegation from the M. E. Church 361 
Impressions Made by this General 
Conference upon Dr. William Nast 
and Rey. John Dreisbach........ 367 
The Annual Conference Sessions... 370 
Successful Mission Work .......... afl 
Success on the Circuits............ 372 
Rev.'Ghass Hesser 7277. se aoe 373 


Another Prosperous Conf. Year.... 375 
Bro; Daniel Focht.t(imossseees seeG 380 
A Quiet Conference Year.......... 
Renewed. Discussions of Higher 

Education e0ns\. sc lsuleeeeeneeee 
A Year of; Progress.s. uo. con on ee 
Conf. Sessions—Resolutions against 

Secret. Societies ..5°). 5..\5vsye.ees 
Another Controveasy on Classical 


HduGalion y's cacun seen tees 385 
A very Business-like General Con- 
FOTCNCO NEW aaisncisiaee oon samen ee 385 


Resolutions Concerning High Schools 386 
The Publication of the Ev. Messen- 
ger Ordered 387 
Election of Bishops and Editors.... 388 
Class-Meetings ... 6.5 .usect sccuuecs 388 
Against Secret Societies........... 
Extension and Progress of the Work 


e@eseeeeeececeenescesete 


Conference Sessions — Organization 
of the New York Conference..... 391 
The Cause of Missions............. 391 


Unfavorable Result of the Vote 
concerning the Proposed Semi- 


Biographical Sketches....... OA he DSO Le DALY . cates cb tieles cman At coun a neocon 

A Still more Fruitful Year......... 340] Portentous Beginning of the Year 
A Trying Time for the Publ. House 346| 1849........ PPE EE eee 
Biographical Sketches............. 347 | Conference Sessions..... sapeen teas 393 
The Eighth General Conference.... 353 | Many Camp-Meetings............. 394 
Declaration of General Conf. Con- Conversion of John Walz.......... 394 
cerning Erudition of the Ministry 356! Biographical Sketches............. 402 

EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION IN CANADA. 

German Immigrants.............- 407 | The First Camp-Meeting in Canada, 
rae oer ; CLC cee aes Sos iowa aa tee 411 
ee ond Eel A Remarkable Letter ............. 413 

TIONS Men diss os Gee eae a 408 Reports of the Brethren John ea 
Initiation of the Work ............ 409! Zinser and Chas. Hammer....... 414 


CONTENTS. [9] 


Pages. Pages. 

The First Reports of the Regular Further Labors and Successes..... 421 

Missionaries in Canada.......... 416 | A Remarkable Meeting. . . 424 
Report of the First Camp-Meeting The First Church Edifice i in nae 

in the ‘Canada Museum,”’...... 419; —AStroke of the Devil.......... 425 

Missionary Labors of Bro. Joseph An Outlook.. .. 426 

Harlacher .....000esesceccescsss 420 | Great Awakening ‘at “Twenty”. »» 428 


HISTORY OF THE PUPLISHING HOUSE OF THE EVAN- 
GELICAL ASSOCIATION. 


BRIEF HISTORY OF THE “EVANGELICAL MESSENGER.” 
EDU eID eae eae cain tera cee pears y onic sabe Wied iclh see waite pola cd are hard sip hie wis « aiesi) KAO 


RETROSPECTIVE REMARKS. 


UdGaveatedeetsossce @eeeens0e 0200080280808 80282008808797980809 9888 88808 €©020060000808 0008 445 





Pel om) IY’ 


OF THE 


EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 


PRELIMINARY. 


Brey tree has its roots, and everything in the world has its originating 

cause, hence also its preliminary history. Thus every movement and 
event in the Church of Christ on earth also has its previous, often hidden 
causes, which frequently extend back into the remote past. This fact does 
not reflect unfavorably upon divine Providence, but rather indicates the 
governing and overruling hand of Him “ who worketh all things according 
to the counsel of his own will.” (Kphesians 1, 11.) 

One of the most important features of written history is the inquiry | 
into these causes and their portrayal in a clear light. This applies also in 
a high degree to the History of the Evangelical Association. Whosoever 
desires to paint a correct historical picture of this Church must first pres- 
ent the historical background in order to produce the picture itself correct- 
ly and clearly. 

Guided by this principle we step back into the past and begin this 
history in the middle of the eighteenth century — about the years A. D. 
1750-60, the decade in which Jacos ALBRIGHT, whom God was pleased to 
choose as the founder of this Church, was born,— fifty years before the 
beginning of the organization of the Evangelical Association. 

As the Evangelical Association took its rise in the chiefly German 
counties of Pennsylvania, situated east of the Allegheny mountains, viz. 
Lancaster, Berks, Bucks, Montgomery, Lehigh, Northampton, York, North- 
umberland and other counties, whose population consisted of German 
Pennsylvanians, we direct our attention first of all to that part of the 
country and its inhabitants, considering more especially their moral condition 
at that period. We will, however, find ourselves necessitated to extend 
our view somewhat further and consider several historical factors, which 
reach chronologically into earlier history, and co-operated in the intro- 
ductory history which we now write. 


§ 1. The German Pennsylvanians. 

The German Pennsylvanians, of whom we now speak, immigrated from 
Europe into Pennsylvania; and because in their time the so-called “ Klein- 
staaterei” (the system of small states or provinces) prevailed in Germany, 
it may well be said that they came from a country of “lords many and 
gods many.” This immigration into Pennsylvania was started in the proper 

(11) 2 


12 HISTORY OF THE 


sense of the word by the philanthropic and pious Friend (Quaker) 
WILLIAM PENN, who had already traveled and labored in Germany before 
he entered upon the actual possession of the immense tract of land, which 
has immortalized his name. Although he was a Briton he acquired a suf- 
ficient knowledge of the German language to enable him to converse with 
Germans, and by the guarantee of religious and political freedom in his 
colony immigration was started as if by magic. These precious privileges 
had become an imperative desideratum to those tyrannized and oppressed 
people. We must here pass by many interesting details in order to follow 
our main purpose. 
§ 2. The First German Immigrants. 

The British ship Concord * landed the first cargo of German immigrants 
on the 6th day ¢ of October, 1683, at Philadelphia, Pa. Immediately a 
beginning was made by them to found Germantown near Philadelphia, under 
the supervision of the very capable and renowned pioneer FRANZ DANIEL 
Pastorius, but the extreme poverty of these people compelled them to live 
at first in very small log cabins in the original forests. The beggarly appear- 
ance of this first German-town (‘“ Deutschen-Stadt ”) induced certain wags 
to call it ‘“ Poor-mans-town” by way of ridicule. But to-day not a few mil- 
lionaires are among its citizens. 

A few decades later this immigration assumed immense dimensions. 
The Pennsylvanian historian I, D. Rupp alone counts in his book ¢ over 
thirty thousand names of Germans, Swedes and Hollanders — comprised 
under the general designation of Palatinates—who emigrated into Pennsyl- 
vania from 1727 till 1776, and yet his lists are far from being complete. 


§ 8. An Exodus. 

A colossal movement of Palatinate immigrants took place during 1708-9 
who settled upon the western shore of the Hudson river in the then 
province of New York, and under great hardships and embarrassments laid 
the foundations of the towns of Newburg, Rhinebeck, New Palatine and 
others. But being sorely harassed by the New York Provincial Govern- 
ment many of them moved up the Hudson river into Central New York and 
settled in the Mohawk and Canajoharie valleys in the primitive wilderness 
among the Indians where they wrestled with the wild forests and great 
poverty until they had changed those forests into beautiful farms, Who- 
ever, at the present time, travels from Albany to Syracuse, N. Y., will be 


*) “This vessel, which brought the advance guard of the first German immigrants 
to Pennsylvania, has remained unhonored and almost unknown, whilst every child 
can tell of the ‘ Mayflower’, that brought over the Pilgrim Fathers, and which has 
been glorified in poetry and prose. Perhaps at some future timea similar enthusiasm 
will spring up among the Germans over the almost forgotten Concord.” Prof. Sei- 
densticker’s Geschichtsblitter, p. 23. 

1) At that time the ‘‘old style” was still in use, according to present reckoning 
it would be October 16. 

t) Rupp’s Collection of more than 30,000 Names, etc. 


EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 13 


greatly delighted by the sight of splendid farms and towns where about 175 
years ago untutored savages and wild animals reigned without rivals in the 
fearful wild-woods. 

But these industrious Germans were again harassed by British officials 
and speculators who cast their greedy eyes upon their beautiful clearings 
and fruitful farms. Failing to find deliverance from these tormenters many 
of them resolved to emigrate to Pennsylvania, and quite a caravan started 
about the year 1720 and made their way under many hardships through 
the roadless wilderness from the Mohawk Valley across the mountains and 
down the Wyoming and Susquehannah valleys until they reached Berks 
County, Pa., and joined the German settlements in the neighborhood of 
Womelsdorf in said county. Their leader-was the justly renowned JOHN 
ConRAD WEISER, who also settled near Womelsdorf and became very useful 
to the State authorities as an interpreter in their dealings with the Indians. 
Here, then, these Germans found at last the long-desired peace and received 
decent treatment under the government of the friendly Penn family.* 


§ 4. Correspondence. 

These events were, of course, reported, by mail and otherwise, to Ger- 
many. The Swedish traveler Peter Kalm says: “The Germans wrote to 
their relatives and friends in Germany and advised those who intended to 
immigrate to America, by all means to avoid New York where the author- 
ities had treated them so hatefully.” These representations made a strong 
impression and induced immigrants to avoid New York and locate them- 
selves in Pennsylvania.t Hence we see hosts of Germans in the early part 
of the eighteenth century hastening into Pennsylvania and establishing 
homesteads in the wilderness among the Indians.—And what were the 
evidently strong motives inducing them thereto ? 


§ 5. Motives for Immigration. 

‘“We know that religious motives induced the persecuted Puritans and 
Quakers to forsake their fatherland and seek an asylum in the New World. 
The same was the case with the first German immigrants. The treaty of 
peace, made at Westphalia, in 1648, at the close of the Thirty Years War. 
recognized but three confessions of faith in the German Empire: the 
Catholic, Lutheran, and Reformed. Whosoever was, by conscientious con- 
viction, induced to shape his Christian faith differently, to understand the 
Bible otherwise, and clothe his worship in other forms, found his life 


*) Those Germans who remained in the Mohawk valley, N. Y., were for a long 
time on friendly terms with the Mohawk Indians around them; they intermarried to 
some extent and learned also the language of the savages, from which arose the 
curious ‘‘ Mohawk-German’” dialect, used by their descendants. The Evangelical 
Association established one of its first Home Missions in 1839 among these Mohawk 
Germans. For further information about these people we refer to Fr. Kapp’s interest- 
ing Geschichte der Deutschen im Staate New York. 

1) Kapp’s Geschichte, p. 138. 


14 HISTORY OF THE 


embittered by Church and State. These non-conformist Christians, who 
were vehemently assailed and mercilessly persecuted, became quite numer- 
ous in Germany toward the close of the seventeenth century. The harmless 
Mennonites seldom found even a precarious toleration, the pious Schwenk- 
felders had to endure most shameful treatment, even the Pietists, the pious 
followers of Puriip JAcoB SPENER, who but insisted upon a deeper appre- 
hension and more conscientious practice of religion within the sphere of 
Lutheranism, were regarded with suspicion by the scholastic Church, 
coarsely villified, and reported to the authorities of the State as being 
dangerous innovators. The Mystics, who arose in manifold shadings, both 
among the learned and the common people, were regarded as fit subjects 
far the mad-house and the penitentiary.” * These unpleasant facts became 
almost irresistible inducements for emigration. 
§ 6. The Paiatinates. 

Among these immigrants the real Palatinates f were by far the most 
numerous. Indescribable sufferings compelled the farmers and citizens of 
the Palatinate to leave the naturally beautiful Rhenish provinces and seek 
for themselves a peaceful home in the “ New World.” 

The thirty-years-war fearfully devastated the entire Palatinate. Spin- 
ola, Mansfeld and Tilly made terrible havoc [1620-1622.] The Spaniards 
invaded it under Gallas in 1635 and exceeded all others in savage cruelty. 
The Rhenish provinces became like a wilderness. As a result of these 
measureless devastations a fearful famine prevailed during 1635-38. So 
great was the destitution that the poor sufferers were driven to eat 
the flesh of dogs, cats, rats, mice, frogs and carcasses. Starving people 
killed each other and ate up the slain; graves were violated and the 
decaying bodies eaten! In addition to all this a fearful pestilence broke 
out among the suffering people. The French and Bavarians invaded the 
Rhenish provinces in 1639 and rioted fearfully. The first good harvest in 
1641 was destroyed. In 1649 scarcely one-fiftieth part of the population was 
left, and the country seemed like a desert, In the year 1673 Louis XIV. of 
France commenced his ravages and practised the most reckless incendiar- 
ism; his devastating pillages were continued at intervals until 1679. In 
1680 this French despot again invaded the German Palatinate and continued — 
his ravages until 1695. The prosperity of the people was ruined for at 
least one generation. “A desert shall henceforth be the boundary of 
France,’ said Louis. Heidelberg and Mannheim were burned in 1689, and 
after that Speyer, Worms and other cities. And who could count all the 
smaller towns and villages that were leveled to the ground? Even the 
homeless mercenaries of the Thirty- Years-War did not rage so furiously and 
yet so systematically as did the armed vandals of this sanguinary monarch, 
who represented himself and his people as the very flower of European 
civilization. Facts cried to heaven, that since the times of the Huns and 


*) Prof. Seidensticker’s Geschichtsblitter, p. 5. 
{) Inhabitants of the Palatinate. 


EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 15 


Goths no such outrages had been committed in the European world. The 
effects of those horrible devastations are not even yet altogether ob- 
literated. * 

§ 7. Foes Within. 

In addition to all the other miseries of these Rhenish provinces there 
arose inner foes, Roman Catholic Prince Electors (‘“ Kurfiirsten”) took 
possession of the government, who, being influenced by Jesuits, persecuted 
the Reformed, Huguenot refugees. These depraved rulers also tried to 
imitate the extravagance of the French court. Luxuriousness, extra- 
vagance and licentiousness rivaled each other ; the poor people were taxed 
almost to death, in order to support this scandalous government (1690- 
1799.) Their misery mocks all description. Civil and ecclesiastical dis- 
tress compelled the downtrodden people to forsake their ancestral homes 
and fatherland by thousands. Baden and Wirtemberg, which also furnished 
a large contingent to this stream of emigration, had suffered scarcely less. 
But we may not describe these calamities any further, and gladly turn from 
them to other interesting topics. 


§ 8. Jacob Albright’s Father. 

Among the tens of thousands who fled from those sad scenes of van- 
dalism was also JoHN ALBRIGHT, the father of JAcoB ALBRIGHT. John 
Albright came in the sailship Johnson from Rotterdam via Deal across the 
Atlantic, arriving at Philadelphia on the 19th day of September 1732, and 
afterward settled a few miles from the site of the present City of Pottstown, 
on the eastern side of the Schuylkill river, in Montgomery County, Pa. — 
The same vessel carried 330 Palatinate immigrants.t John Albright must 
have been still a young man at that time. Jacob and Ludwig Albright, 
both under 16 years of age and probably John Albright’s brothers, came on 
the same ship. Of John Albright’s ancestry we have not been able to find 
any traces. The probability is that his ancestors were lost in the terrible 
commotions described above, and their records destroyed. 


§ 9. The Schwenkfelders. 

These people, constituting a small Christian sect, emigrated in the 
year 1734 from Silesia, Germany, into Pennsylvania and settled chiefly in 
the territory covered by the present counties of Montgomery, Berks, Bucks, 
and Lehigh. They are followers of the Silesian nobleman Caspar 
ScHWENKFELD VON OssiNna, born 1490, and a contemporary of Dr. Luther 
and the Reformation. Schwenkfeld was in all main points of doctrine an 
orthodox believer ; he was sincerely pious, and a mystic in the good sense 
of the word. He took a great interest in the movements of the Reforma- 
tion, but differed from Luther and Lutheran theologians concerning the 


*) For a full description of this great misery see Kapp’s Geschichte der Deut- 
schen Einwanderung nach Amerika, pp. 58—T7.- 
t) Rupp’s 30,000 Namen, etc. 


16 HISTORY OF THE 


Lord’s Supper, the means of grace and several other points, though he did 
not reject the sacraments. Luther disliked him very much on this account, 
called him “ Stinkfeld,” and declared him to be possessed of the devil, etc. 
Schwenkfeld was master of the original biblical languages, wrote many 
folios and smaller books and pamphlets. Among these we note his book, 
entitled: “The Heavenly Medicine” (“Die Himmlische Arznei”), as be- 
ing exceptionally good.* These Schwenkfelders never organized them- 
selves in Europe into an ecclesiastical community. They were a quiet 
people, but were equally maltreated by Catholics and Lutherans, and had 
to endure the “spoiling of their goods” and imprisonment. Count Zinzen- 
dorf and a few other noblemen protected them as long as they could. 
Finally they felt compelled, for conscience and liberty’s sake, to leave their 
country and seek a home in Pennsylvania, where they were after many 
years visited by Jacob Albright and the Evangelical preachers. 


§ 10. Concerning a few other Denominations. 

There is scarcely any need of a detailed description of the history and 
settlement of the Mennonites, Moravians and similar sects who emigrated 
to Pennsylvania during those years, as we may take it for granted that the 
reader possesses considerable knowledge of them and their settlement in 
the “ New World.” And this applies in a much larger degree to the Luther- 
ans and Reformed who constituted the bulk of the German immigrants, 

Thus we see that civil and ecclessiastical oppression, the never ceas- 
ing martial unrest and civil convulsions, and withal a pinching poverty, im- 
pelled these Germans to come to the “land of promise ” — Pennsylvania, 
where they could serve God according to the dictates of their consciences, 
and at the same time secure a peaceful home and a competency for them- 
selves and their families. Tn doing this they transformed the wild woods, 
as it were, into a paradise; and in order to accomplish these noble pur- 
poses, these German ancestors shunned no privation, toil, nor difficulty. 





*) For full information concerning this good man see Gottfried Arnold’s Kir- 
chen- und Ketzerhistorie, also Erlduterung fiir Caspar Schwenkfeld, published by 
the Schwenkfelders in Pennsylvania. 


EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 17 


FIRST PERIOD. 
1750-1800. 


§11. Increase of the Germans. 

About the year 1750 the Germans in eastern Pennsylvania already 
numbered tens of thousands, and continued immigration augmented the 
number rapidly. To this ought to be added the well-known fecundity of 
the Teutonic race. During the first decade of this period JAcoB ALBRIGHT 
was born May 1, 1759.— “The entire southeastern part of Pennsylvania, 
excepting, perhaps, Chester County, had since the middle of the pre- 
vious century been occupied by a German population, whose industry con- 
tributed very materially to the prosperity of the province. Probably at 
that time the Germans constituted more than one half of the entire popul- 
ation of Pennsylania. Governor Thomas estimated them at three-fifth.* 
In large portions of this country no other but the German language 
was heard, and until to-day the so-called Pennsylvania-German maintains 
itself as a distinctive dialect, produced by a mixture of the palatine and 
allemannic dialects sprinkled with English words.” ¢ 


§ 12. Ecclesiastical Conditions. 

Concerning Church-conditions this German population was a vari- 
egated mass. A certain Mr. V. Beck, a tourist, who, as it seems, inspected 
these immigrants at their arrival in Philadelphia and during their temp- 
orary stay at that city, wrote of them, on June 6th, 1734: ‘Here are 
people belonging to all religions and sects: Lutherans, Reformed, Episco- 
palians, Presbyterians, Catholics, Quakers, Dunkers, Mennonites, Sab- 
batherians, Seven-days people, Separatists, Bohemians, Sechwenkfelders, 
Tuchfelders, Wellwishers, etc.” t 

William Penn had opened his large province to the oppressed and per- 
secuted, and they came by thousands from Europe and settled in the then 
three great counties of Pennsylvania: Philadelphia, Bucks, and Lancaster. 
A more detailed arrangement according to denominations and settlement 
in the present divisions of counties would give us the following result : 
The German Quakers in and about Germantown ; the Mennonites partly in 
Germantown, but chiefly in the counties of Montgomery, Bucks, Lehigh, 


*) “In 1742 their number was given at 100,000, and in 1783 at 280,000.” Prof. 
Horne in History of Lehigh County, p. 23. 

1) Seidensticker’s Geschichisblaetter, ete. 

t) Urlsperger’s Nachrichten I., p. 156. 


18 SIP SL OR Ves OLe AE £0 [1750= 


Lancaster and York; the Dunkers chiefly in Lancaster, York and Mont- 
gomery ; the Lutherans and Reformed in Montgomery, Lehigh, Bucks, 
Northampton, Berks, Lebanon, Dauphin, York, Cumberland, Franklin, 
Adams, and in Central Pennsylvania unto the Allegheny mountain range ; 
the Schwenkfelders in Montgomery county, and throughout the section 
where Montgomery, Bucks, Lehigh and Berks counties join each other. 

These immigrants were nearly all poor,* and, of course, had to begin 
the great struggle with the original forests and other untoward conditions 
and circumstances of this new world to secure the needed shelter and live- 
lihood. Established Church organizations were out of question, and as to 
Church edifices they were then an impossibility. Ministers of the Gospel 
were exceedingly scarce, and among the few so-called clergymen there were 
some of questionable character ; yea even some ex-convicts, who fied from 
Kurope, in order to escape merited punishment, and pretended to be minis- 
ters until they were unmasked as criminals. 


§ 13. Mission of Rey. Heinrich Melchior Muehlenberg. 

Although the renowned Pastor HEInricH MELCHIOR MUEHLENBERG was 
sent from Halle, Germany, to Pennsylvania, in 1742, to gather into congre- 
gations the scattered Lutherans, he succeeded only in a few places in estab- 
lishing Church-order. In 1754 he and his co-laborers, Revs. Peter Brunnholz 
and John F. Handschuh in a joint report to the authorities in Halle, bitterly 
complained on account of the unsatisfactory and untoward condition of 
Churches and Church-work in this country. In this report they say among 
other things: “Among the many thousands of colonists that came into 
this country during these years, there are many impudent, perverted and 
restless spirits , persons who in Europe would not submit to God, nor to 
the spiritual and civil authorities ; men, who could not live peaceably with 
their neighbors; people, who led an idle and intemperate life, and in this 
country seek to make their living and obtain influence by cunning and 
trickery. This class of people have scarcely set their foot upon this good- 
ly land when they at once set themselves to disregard all order and forth- 
with use this blessed liberty as a cloak for their iniquity and licentious- 
ness. They mingle with those already here, who are enemies to that which 
is good and proper ; they villify and defame regular teachers, worship, and 
good arrangements, call these popery, a heavy yoke, and an intolerable 
burden, and strive to turn the rabble into factions against us, and increase 
our distress, of which we could cite a number of examples. Such wicked 
ringleaders destroy the outward order and security which we have 
established, and turn things into confusion.” 





*) Many of them were too poor to pay their passage across the ocean, and were 
necessitated to hire themselves as servants — mostly to English residents — who paid 
for them, by contract for a specified time, and thus they “‘earned off” the passage 
money. There arose also a class of brokers, who sold immigrants, both, in Europe 
and this country, to this ‘‘service,” and often swindled these poor people out of 
their small personal possessions. 


-1800. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION, 19 


Furthermore they complain in their letter of ecclesiastical con. 
fusion, as follows: “To this must be added the misfortune that when the 
‘Newlanders,’ or rather souwl-sellers, as they are here called, annually in 
Autumn bring many thousands of Germans into this country, there also 
come along with them some so-called preachers whom they have picked up, 
such as have been either deposed from office in Germany, or committed 
some villany, or have never been in office, or have been only riotous stud- 
ents. Now, when these outlaws arrive, some disorderly Lutherans pur- 
chase them by paying their fare. For this consideration they then must 
act for some time as ministers of the Gospel and administer the sacraments, 
whether they have been ordained to the holy office or not. Afterwards 
they are dismissed and new ones are similarly bought. These vagabonds 
then perambulate through the country and seek their bread, and in order 
to accomplish their object the more easily they join themselves to those 
restless spirits aforementioned, and sneak about in the congregations of 
recular ministers and stir up the members against the preachers; they 
unite in defaming that of which they know nothing, but call themselves 
the genuine Evangelical preachers, and their followers the only orthodox 
Lutherans. With heavy hearts we must say: ‘A wonderful and horrible 
thing is committed in the land; the prophets prophesy falsely, and the 
priests bear rule by their means, and my people love to have it so; and 
what will ye do in the end thereof?’ Jeremiah 5, 30.31. ‘Is there no balm 
in Gilead, is there no physician there? Why then is the health of the 
daughter of my people not recovered?’ Jeremiah 8, 22.” 

Moreover, these godly men wrote concerning the lack of houses of 
worship, as follows: “In many places we not only lack houses in which 
the word could be preached and the sacraments administered without dis- 
turbance by the noise of sheep, swine, cows, horses and other irrational 
creatures in the stalls attached to barns, but we lack still more any sort of 
buildings in which to conduct schools for poor children. The children roam 
about like stray lambs, and the numerous young people are being neglected 
in many places.’”* Only at a few places, which they name, matters appeared 
to be somewhat more promising. 

§ 14. Rev. Michael Schlatter and the Reformed. 

Similar conditions existed among the Reformed, In the year 1746 
Rey. MIcHAEL ScHLATTER came from Switzerland to Pennsylvania to organ- 
ize the German Reformed Church in this country, but he encountered the 
same difficulties of which Mr. Muehlenberg speaks. After he had applied 
himself with considerable success to the establishing of his Church, he fell 
into disfavor with his associates in the faith. “Schlatter was to be pitied. 
With his congregation in Philadelphia and the Reformed Coetus (Synod) 
he lost his reputation and found himself compelled to resign his pastorate 
and take a chaplaincy in the army.” Tf 





*) Hallesche Nachrichten, pp. 682-84. 
{) Seidensticker’s Geschichtsblitter, p. 135, 


20 HISTORY OF THE [1750~ 


Mr. Schlatter also sent complaining letters to the Reformed authorities 
in his fatherland. Ina letter, written in 1752, he reported, that there were 
30,000 Kuropeans of the Reformed faith in Pennsylvania among whom he 
had established sixteen parishes, but many other “communities” had no 
pastors and their condition was most deplorable, and then continues as fol- 
lows: “But that which makes the condition of these communities still 
more pitiable is the fact that most of them are not even provided with a 
good schoolmaster. Very few are willing to become teachers because the 
poor people, although richly blessed with children, are not able to raise 
money enough to keep up a school. These children must grow up as wild 
branches, having no guide but their depraved natures, Thus our Reformed 
Christianity will deteriorate into a new paganism, and there is danger, that 
it will become worse than the old heathenism in this country. To proper- 
ly judge this matter I willingly leave to those who know how to value the 
salvation of immortal souls. 

“It would break the heart of a true Christian, if he could hear the piti- 
ful lamentations and see the flowing tears of such as deplore this condition 
and lament the fact that they have no food for their souls. Very few of 
them possess Bibles. And those who besides this hear no preaching and, 
of course, become lukewarm, careless and hardened are greatly to be pitied. 
But most of all are the tender children to be commiserated who without 
religious instruction grow up for perdition and become a prey to Satan and 
his seducing apostles.” * 


§ 15. Mennonites, Schwenkfelders and Others. 

With respect to outward organization the Mennonites and Schwenk- 
felders were more favorably situated. It was one of their peculiarities to 
cling together. It was their custom, if not princple, to marry only such as 
belonged to their faith, and also to wear a peculiar plain dress similar to 
that of the Quakers. The Moravians brought their peculiarly close Church 
organization along to this country. Their first settlements, viz.: Bethle- 
hem, Nazareth and several other places excluded all other people from hold- 
ing property, only those of their faith could own realestate. The Catholics, 
whose ecclesiastical essence consists in the outward organization, soon 
organized and submitted, as they do everywhere, to the inflexible rule of the 
priest. But besides these organized Churches there were hundreds of thou- 
sands of Germans who practically lived without the Churches, and abused 
the blessings of liberty by using them as a license for wickedness. They 
went astray like sheep without a shepherd, and became a prey to seducing 
spirits and “rayenous wolves.” 


§16. Religious Conditions. 
In view of the aforesaid conditions and facts the conclusion cannot be 
avoided that with regard to true Christianity — the faith which worketh by 





*) Schlatter’s Briefe. 


-1800. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 21 


love, the essence of which is Christ within us — the actual religious state 
of things was a deplorable one. 

Pastors Miihlenberg, Handschuh, Brunnholtz, Kunze and others state 
in their reports to the authorities in Halle, that in their time many im- 
migrants came to Pennsylvania, not induced by a desire to obtain liberty 
to serve God according to their faith, as was the case with most of the first 
immigrants, but from mercenary motives. And among them were not a 
few fugitives, who feared the power of transgressed laws, and who led 
licentious lives to the great detriment of morality and religion in this 
country. 

The immigrant brokers sent a large number of people across the ocean 
who were rationalists, and such as .had imbibed French atheism, who also 
made some converts here ; although it is a pleasure to mention the fact, 
that the first immigrants and their children maintained their belief in God 
and a degree of respect for the Bible in spite of the worldiiness and unfaith 
that was prevailing to so great an extent. 

The scarcity of true preachers of the Gospel was very great. The 
few faithful Lutheran pastors sent over from Halle, who endeavored in 
their way to bring souls to Christ and lead them into the Lutheran Church, 
could reach comparatively few of the great mass of German people, and 
could overcome but few of the many extraordinary difficulties. The same 
was true of the Reformed, Mennonites and others. And meanwhile the 
hirelings and wolves in sheep’s clothing, already alluded to, did their part 
in ruining the people morally and religiously. And thus the words of 
Solomon were fulfilled again: “ Where there is no vision (true preaching) 
the people perish.”” Prov. 29, 18. 

There was a better state of things among the Moravians. Their num- 
ber was small, they had only a few settlements, and their organization was 
complete. They had not come to this country to become rich in this 
world, but chiefly to carry on Mission-work, and they were blessed with 
some good results among the Indians. Count Zinzendorf came over several 
times for the purpose of promoting the work and the cause of Missions. 
He and some of his co-laborers endeavored about the year 1736-40, to 
unite some pious mystics and a number of preachers of this sort among 
various denominations into a union, to be called: “The Congregation of 
God in the Spirit,” similar to the Pietists in Europe. Several pious min- 
isters of the Reformed Church, such as JoHN BACHTEL, of Germantown, and 
others, and a few Lutheran pastors, together with godly laymen, such as 
HEINRICH ANTHES and JoHN A. GRUBER, and several Mennonites and 
Schwenkfelders joined this movement. They held blessed meetings in Ger- 
mantown and other places, and great hopes were entertained. But Mr, 
Muehlenberg, who was the leader of the Lutherans, and Mr. Schlatter of the 
Reformed, antagonized Zinzendorf, whom they regarded as a heretic, and 
opposed this movement. The result was that most of the Lutherans and 
Reformed withdrew from this “Union.” The sectarian spirit gained the 


22 HISTORY OF THE [1750- 


ascendancy, and those who did not agree with it either joined the Moravians 
or retired into mystic solitude and contemplative silence. The Moravians 
were henceforth antagonized and treated as a sect. Christianity was to 
have either the Lutheran or Reformed fashion or color; and withal these 
good men believed they were perfectly right in their narrow views. 

It was the old story over again: ‘“ Master, we saw one casting out 
devils in thy name, and he followed not us, and we forbade him, because 
he followeth not us.” Mark 9, 38. O this wretched, ungodly narrowness ! 
What small measure of divine life was yet left in those dreary times should, 
according to human opinion, flow exclusively ina few strictly bounded 
denominational rivulets. But divine life cannot be thus limited. It does 
not agree with denominational incarceration ! 


§ 17. Pastor Helmuth’s Plaintive Letters. 

How pitiful a state of things religiously prevailed even in the best 
organized and oldest Lutheran Churches about thirty years later is shown 
by published letters written by the Lutheran pastor HeLmurtu, of Lancaster, 
Pennsylvania. In one of these letters, dated April 23rd, 1771, he reports 
that a few souls had by the grace of God been awakened, and then exclaims 
sorrowfully : “ But how small is this number in comparison with the great 
mass! ‘True conversion is to the majority such an unknown and strange 
thing that when Jesus calls, stirs up, and awakens, they will not admit, at 
least not from the heart, that it is He, but, on the contrary, declare it to 
be imagination, morbid fancy, yea even the work of the devil who intended 
to rob one of his faith, not knowing that one has no faith, but is submerged 
in the deepest unbelief.” * 

The same pastor wrote again on the 28th day of October, 1772, as fol- 
lows: ‘“Iniquity reveals itself among old and young only too plainly. 
What is most deplorable in this matter is the fact that such wretched 
people notwithstanding their levity call themselves Christians,even Lutheran 
Christians. They even believe that they belong to the best class of Christ- 
ians. The blessing of the divine Word drops in their cases upon hot stones 
and cannot demonstrate its power. They run only to the Church and demand 
permission to come to the table of the Lord, although this does not belong 
to such swine (as the Word of God calls them.) That such subjects yet 
boast the name of Christian is only possible because Church discipline is 
being so utterly neglected, etc.” f 

Numerous testimonies of this kind from other sources describing the 
deplorable state of religion in the Lutheran and Reformed Churches could 
here be introduced, but these will suffice. This godly pastor Helmuth was 
one of the few who realized how greatly sin abounded even among the 
Church people, but he was too much isolated and too weak to stem the 
tide of wickedness. But if such was the religious condition of an organ- 








*) Hallesche Vachrichten, p. 1336. 
+) Hallesche Nachrichten, pp. 1844-45. 


-—1800. } EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 23 


ized and established congregation, what must have been the condition of 
the unorganized masses of people ? — 


§18. Religious Condition of the Mennonites. 

The Mennonite congregations in Pennsylvania in a great measure lost 
the noble spirit of their former confessors and martyrs who are the glory of 
their history, and fell into non-essentials and that worldy mindedness which 
so largely prevailed in this period of time. When one of their ministers, 
Bishop Martin Boru, was converted toGod about the year 1758 and began 
to preach the word of God in the demonstration and power of the Spirit, 
and sinners were led to repentance and brought to Christ, and when he at a 
later time was led, in union with the pious Reformed pastor PH. WiLLIAM 
OTTERBEIN and others, to hold special meetings in order to arouse sinners 
from spiritual death, he was, on this account, expelled from the Mennonite 
Church.* Real spiritual life could not be tolerated, but non-essential 
peculiarities, such as a particular mode of dress, a long beard, etc., were 
the more extolled as essentially belonging to true godliness. 

Similar testimonies by different authors are given concerning other 
confessions as they existed before the Revolutionary War. One of them 
summarizes the condition of the Germans in Pennsylvania in this wise: 
“ Though in their situation they were generally industrious and thrifty, yet 
the condition of religion among them became most deplorable. Common 
observation indicates that social influences of a local and traditional char- 
acter are all but necessary in preserving men in their proper religious 
character. The crossing of the Atlantic, or of the Mississippi, or removal 
from the country into a city or from the city to the country is a frequent 
explanation of religious apostasy. The German immigrants brought little 
of the form of religious helps with them, and they found the least in their 
new settlements that would guard and nourish spiritual life. In their 
homes in Europe religion was too often an outward form, and now in their 
wilderness homes, in their unwillingness to part with all religion, it was to 
a great extent a mere dead form, which they made more or less effort to 
establish. Their minds were hardened by the treatment that they had met, 
their energies were taxed in their struggle to build homes and secure sub- 
sistence, and the very atmosphere of the New World encouraged a wild 
and reckless life.” 7 

Finally let us hear one of the most respected authorities of that time, 
namely the already quoted Rev. Dr. Muehlenberg, who deplores the deter- 
iorated state of religion in this manner: “ The spiritual condition of our 
people is so miserable that we must shed many tears over it. The young 
people grow up without the knowledge of religion and sink rapidly into 
heathenism.”’ f 





*) Life of Ph. William Otterbein, pp. 131-148. 
t) Drury’s Life of Ph. William Otterbein, pp. 61-2. 
t) Life and Times of Miihlenderg, p. 68. 


24 HISTORY OF THE [1750- 


§ 19. Deterioration of Conditions by the War. 


During the year 1775 the war between the American colonies and 
Great Britain was inaugurated. The war-fever also took a powerful hold 
upon the Germans of Pennsylvania. Of this Pastor Helmuth, of Lan- 
caster, Pa., says in a letter, dated August 25th, 1775: “Great preparations 
for war are being made throughout this country, and nearly everybody is 
arming himself for battle. The zeal which manifests itself under these 
sad circumstances is indescribable. When one hundred men have been 
called for, a great many more will offer themselves, and those who are not 
accepted become greatly dissatisfied. In all my acquaintance with history 
I know of no similar case. Whole neighborhoods of which it was expected 
it would require years until people would volunteer have become intensely 
warlike as soon as they heard of the first attack by the Britisb at Lexington. 

“Quakers, Mennonites, etc., deny in large numbers their former confes- 
sional principle and participate in the military drill. The tumult of war is 
heard hourly in the streets.” * 

Bancrort says: “The Germans who constituted a great portion of the 
population of the province of Pennsylvania were all on the side of liberty. 
Whole battalions of them went into the war.” 

Another author says: ‘Selected German companies were formed, who 
held themselves in readiness to march anywhere, if required.” 

These Germans were among the best soldiers in Washington’s army, 
and served throughout the entire war. Hundreds of them were slain in the 
heat of battle, but their places were soon filled by others. Only Men- 
nonites, Quakers, Dunkers and others, who are anti-war Christians, because 
they entertain conscientious scruples against bearing weapons, were 
excused by congress (excepting such as volunteered, as aforementioned), 
but they furnished a great amount of provisions for the army. 

But war is the cause of great moral, ecclesiastical and civil disorder, 
and, of course, this war was no exception. Many ministers were compelled 
to take their flight, Church-buildings were frequently used as stables for 
cavalry horses, and also as hospitals, and things generally were thrown into 
confusion.— 

This intense seven-years-war almost ruined the colonies, and after 
peace was concluded — although the victory of glorious freedom and inde- 
pendence was complete and the joy over it indescribable — the country 
appeared almost as if a devastating cyclone had swept over it. ‘There 
was,” says a noted author, “no department of society, public, private, 
social, secular or religious, which did not suffer. The country was im- 
poverished and exhausted. The pecuniary expenses of the war amounted 
to not less than $170,000,000 — a greater outlay in proportion to the wealth 
of the country, than twenty times that sum would be at the present time. 
A very considerable portion of this amount remained in the form of a debt. 


*) Hallesche Nachrichten, p. 1367. 


-—1800. | EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 25 


The sacrifice of human life was also great, not less than eighty thousand 
Americans perishing, or one for every forty of the inhabitants. Twelve 
or fifteen cities and numerous villages were laid in ashes, Industry was 
fatally crippled, and demands were made upon the resources of the country 
which but few families could afford to sustain. The virtuous sons of many 
households were transformed into dissipated, discontented, ruined men. 
Numerous houses of worship were either destroyed or so seriously de- 
secrated and injured as to be unfit for further use.” * 


§ 20. Increase of Intemperance. 

The war also caused a fearful increase-in the manufacture and consump- 
tion of the worst intoxicants. At that time the view prevailed very gen- 
erally that strong drink was an absolute necessity for the soldier, to enable 
him to endure all the severe hardships of war ; hence it was with the best 
intention that Congress supplied the army with great quantities of alcoholic 
liquors, whereby the appetite for it was immensely augmented. The dis- 
charged soldiers brought this thirst along home as one of the baleful 
heritages of the war, and by their example induced others also to submit 
to the tyranny of intemperance. During the time of war foreign trade was 
nearly cut off, hence distilleries were erected at home which produced the 
strongest of intoxicants, by which a general ‘‘overspreading of desolations” 
was caused. And as under these circumstances the liquor business became 
very profitable, it flourished remarkably, even far into the following 
century. Already in 1792 there were 2,579 distilleries running to their full 
capacity in the then geographically limited country. It was considered 
essential to good manners to offer strong drink on all social occasions, 
even at funerals, social visits, on the Sabbath-day as well as on other days. 
Everybody drank. The farmer kept his rum barrel in the cellar, and most 
of them ran their own small distilleries, producing apple, rye and potatoe- 
brandies for their own use and for the market. During haymaking and 
harvest it was believed that heat and labor could not be endured unless 
frequent potions of the so-called “dram” were freely indulged. Even many 
clergymen indulged in the drinking habit until they became confirmed 
drunkards, which was in those times excused as being a “sin of weakness,” 
The Germans of Pennsylvania also obtained a full share of the increase of 
this fearful evil. 

§ 21, Political Disorders. 

This general deterioration was also seen and felt in politics. The 
grand rise of the spirit of liberty during the war-period, trespassed, in 
many cases, after the close of the struggle, all bounds, and was perverted 
into licentiousness. Law and order became irksome. There arose a few 
small seditions, but the brave and circumspect president Washington soon 
succeeded in quelling them. During the second term of Washington’s 
presidency this evil spirit appeared in the shape of political partisanship, 





*) Christianity in the United States, p. 261. 


26 HISTORY OF THE [1750- 


and there came a time when he, the faithful “ Father of the Country,” was 
villified and stigmatized by political party papers and demagogical braggarts, 
as if he were one of the worst of men. The notorious Thomas Paine 
bitterly assailed Washington in a private letter, from which we take 
the following extract: “And as for you, sir, treacherous in private friend- 
ship, and a hypocrite in public life, the world will be puzzled to decide 
whether you are an apostate or an impostor, whether you have abandoned 
good principles or whether you ever had any.” 

Washington deeply felt this personal abuse and referred to it in a 
letter to Mr. Jefferson in 1796. He said: “TI have been accused of being 
the enemy of America and subject to the influence of a foreign country ; 
and, to prove that, every act of my administration is tortured and the 
grossest and most insidious misrepresentations made by giving one side 
only of a subject, and that, too, in such exaggerated and indecent terms as 
could scarcely be applied to a Nero, or a notorious defaulter, or even to a 
common pickpocket.” * | ; 

To a friend, who had addressed him on these matters, he wrote, among 
other things also this: “Your sentiments that we are drawing rapidly to a 
crisis accord with mine. What the event will be is beyond my foresight.” + 

But the Lord, the God of our Fathers, watched over the government 
and the crisis passed without a catastrophe. Although the Germans of 





*) Memoirs of Hon. Thomas Jefferson, Vol. I, pp. 66. 67. 

t) For a fuller representation of this state of things see Christianity in the 
United States, pp. 339, 340. 

We add the following vivid paragraph from page 338 of said book: “Moral de- 
terioration is a concomitant and a consequence of war. About one half of the thirty 
years extending from 1753 to 1783 were occupied by the French and Indian and the 
Revolutionary wars, and other Indian wars followed. The moral effect was what 
might be easily conceived. The withdrawal of so many men of all ages from the quiet 
and conservative pursuits of industry to military life, away from the restraints of the 
Sabbath and the sanctuary and in intimate association with unprincipled and skept- 
ical men of foreign lands, engendered in many minds, hitherto virtuous, laxity, unrest 
and moral recklessness. The twenty years following the Revolution was a time 
of the lowest general morality in American history fully attested by the biographies 
and newspapers of that period and the records of ecclesiastical bodies. In the 
churches there was much complaint of general lukewarmness and grievous apo- 
stasies. Many were the lamentations and warnings of good men, though faintly heard 
by the public ear, and arousing but little influence to awake the people to religious 
activity. Primitive morality passed away and Sabbath breaking, profanity and 
other gross vices abounded. The faithful ministers of the Presbyterian Church deep- 

_ly deplored the moral condition of the country. At the session of the Synod of 
Philadelphia and New York in 1788, the report on the State of the Church emphas- 
ized ‘the lamentable decay of vital piety” and the “gross immoralities increas- 
ing to an awful degree.” The next year they mention the “ great and increasing de- 
cay of vital piety, the degeneracy of manners the want of public spirit, and the pre- 
valence of vice and immorality throughout the land.” JZinutes of Synod, 1778- 
1779. 


-1800.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 27 


Pennsylvania were not driven so far in this direction as was the English 
population, yet they were more or less influenced by it, 


§ 22. Unbelief, Deism, Atheism, ete. 

The so-called English and French infidelity came into thig country 
during the war-period. The alliance of the struggling colonies with France 
opened the channel to this evil stream, It is almost incredible what a 
flood ensued. Nearly all the public men became affected by it more or 
less. When Timothy Dwight, D. D. was elected to the presidency of the 
already influential Yale College in 1795, he found atheistic clubs in it, and 
the students were so thoroughly permeated with infidelity and controlled 
by the adoration of English and French infidels that many of them dis- 
carded their own names and adopted those of said unbelievers. Huropean 
vessels brought tens of thousand of copies of infidel books to our shores, 
An immense edition of Tom Paine’s “Age of Reason” was published in 
France for America and was sold here for a few pennies or given away. 
A German edition also appeared and this evil seed also bore its detrimental 
fruits. The wild, mad spirit of unbelief assumed control over the move- 
ment for freedom, which in its beginning in France was led by the noble 
Marquis Lafayette and others of the same mind and aimed at a well ordered 
constitutional government. This evil spirit of infidelity which broke through 
all bounds and led France into the maelstrom of stark atheism, licentious- 
ness, anarchy, and desolation of humanity, also made its impression upon 
America, and had it not been for the watchful care of Providence, our 
country would have sunk into utter moral ruin. In Francethe popular cry 
was: “Liberty, Fraternity, Equality!’ These beautiful words had a 
pleasant sound in many American ears. Washington, however, was soon 
convinced of the ungenuineness of this cry and exhorted to great cautious- 
ness, and when, finally, the guzllotine commenced its havoc, it served as an 
eye-opener to the American people. 

A very detrimental effect produced by this current of unbelief was 
the loosening of proper conceptions with regard to chastity. A creditable 
witness wrote at the beginning of the present century: “I once cut out of 
all newspapers we received, the advertisements of the runaway wives, and 
pasted them on a slip of paper, close under each other. At the end of a 
month the slip reached from the ceiling to the floor of the room, more than 
ten feet high, and contained more than one hundred and twenty-three 
advertisements. We did not receive, at most, more than one twentieth 
part of the newspapers of the United States.”* Inthe State of New York 
a society was formed for the expressed purpose of exterminating Christ- 
ianity and the existing laws, and practicing without restraint the lusts of — 
the flesh viz: fornication and adultery, and this licentiousness was to be 
eulogized and proclaimed as liberty and the rights of human nature. 

It was a time of great darkness and danger, But God preserved such 


*) Dorchester’s Christianity in the United States, p, 342. 3 


28 HISTORY OF THE [1750- 


men as Washington, Franklin and Adams as believers in his Word, whilst — 
Jefferson and his like, yielded to unbelief, at least to its milder form—deism. 
The Germans were disturbed chiefly by rationalism and many were led in 
this direction by clerical vagabonds who had come from Kurope. And 
although the masses did not altogether fall away from orthodoxy, yet the 
“spirit of the times” exerted a noticeable influence in that direction. 


§ 28. Hessian Prisoners of War. 


These prisoners and their descendants became a considerable factor in 
the population and conditions of the Germans in Pennsylvania. These peo- 
ple were sold to the British government by their civil rulers to be employed 
in the war against the American patriots. In order to make them fight 
the more fiercely they were told that the Americans were exceedingly cruel 
and would treat their prisoners inhumanly. One writer— Rev. Weems — 
asserts even that they persuaded these Hessians that the Americans were 
cannibals and would certainly make dinners of them if they suffered them- 
selves to be made prisoners! When Washington by his celebrated war- 
stroke at Trenton, New Jersey, on Christmas, 1776, captured a very large 
contingent of Hessians and treated them with great kindness, they were 
greatly astonished. He sent them into Pennsylvania where they were 
placed in barracks at Allentown, Ephrata, and Lancaster for some time and 
received friendly care. Of them a Pennsylvanian historian says: “These 
Hessian soldiers were sturdy Germans, who did not voluntarily serve the 
King of Great Britain, but had been sold by the sovereign of their country, 
who tyrannized over them, into the British army. They fought by com- 
pulsion against the Americans, and when, during their captivity, they were 
treated humanely, they availed themselves joyfully of the opportunity to bid 
good-bye forever to their oppressors and assist in preparing America as an 
asylum for millions. Most of them established homesteads in this country 
and became loyal citizens.” * 

A detachment of these prisoners was kept at Lancaster where the Rev. 
J. C. A. HELFFENSTEIN, of the German Reformed Church, frequently 
preached the Gospel to them. Of him his biographer says: “Being himself 
decidedly favorable to the cause of this country and of freedom he did not 
hesitate, when opportunity offered to disclose his sentiments. On one oc- 
casion he preached on the text, Isaiah 52, 2: ‘For thus saith the Lord, Ye 
have sold yourselves for nought, and shall be redeemed without money.’ 
This sermon caused a good deal of excitement.” + 

Quite a number of these Hessians settled themselves, at the close of 
the war, in Lancaster county, and among them was HENRY SEYBERT, the 
father of the well-known Bishop JoHn Srypert.{ Concerning him the 


*) Skizzen aus dem Lechathale, p. 149. 
+) Harbaugh’s Fathers of the German Reformed Church, Vol. II, p. 225. 
t) About 30,000 men had been thus sold to the British government to assist in 


-1800.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 29 


the following is reported: 

“During the War of American Independence, Henry Seybert, then a 
lad of fifteen years, was brought to this country among the German merce- 
naries employed by George III. of England, in his war with the American 
colonies At the close of the war young Seybert refused to be ‘redeemed’ 
by the British government, preferring to try his fortunes in the new Repub- 
lic which had achieved so brilliant a victory over one of the foremost na- 
tions of the world, rather than to return to Kurope. The result was that 
the lad was thrown into prison at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, from which a 
philanthrophic gentleman, named Schaffner, released him, by the payment 
of one hundred dollars as a ransom price. He served his benefactor three 
years for his liberty, working at his trade as a tailor.’’t 

This infamous traffic cost England over ten millions of dollars.* 

§ 24. The First Native German-American Generation. 

Toward the close of this period the fathers and mothers among the 
first immigrants had nearly all gone the “way of all flesh.” Another 
generation had already grown up—to which also belonged JAcoB AL- 
BRIGHT —- which was not only separated from the “fatherland,” but was 
practically also unacquainted with it. Surrounded by a wild, new country 
and its savage aborigines, striving to secure for themselves an independent 
existence and home, unable, however, to acquire conveniences or articles of 
luxury, and compelled to adopt the simplest mode of life, having scarcely 
any school-privileges and still less of preaching or the use of the means 
of grace, whilst cunning hirelings and “ wolves in sheep’s clothing,” who 
professed to be preachers of the Gospel without having been called either 
by God or man, intruded themselves upon these Germans and seduced 
entire congregations by their unchristian lives, and as, moreover, the gen- 
eral demoralization, consequent upon the war, penetrated the individual 
and national life more and more —it was no wonder that the “ways of 
Zion were desolate,” so that a second Jeremiah would have had sad 
occasion to compose lamentations over the deplorable desolation of morals 
and religion! If we should cite the testimonies of those times, which are 
at our command, they alone would make a book. The flood of depravity 
might be likened to a deluge. The saddest feature of it was that there 
were scarcely any shepherds of souls to be found ; generally speaking there 


making war upon the American patriots. According to Fr. Kapp’s report the follow- 
ing list of soldiers thus sent to America, is correct: 


Hessen-Cassel sent - . - ° . 16,992 men. 
Hessen- Hanau ea cP o - - - ay AE. Vp as tae 
Braunschweig sec kes ‘ > 5, P23 
Anspach-Bayreuth’’ - - + -* - + 2,353 “ 
Waldeck i - . : - - L225 
Anhalt-Zerbst alee . - ~ . wide b hs 160 ta eo 





Total - - - - ° 29,816: meee 
*) Lowell’s Hessians in the Revolution. 
t) Life of Bishop Seybert, p. 11. 


30 HISTORY OF THE [1750- 


was scarcely anyone, who truly cared for the erring souls of these hundreds 
of thousands of Germans ! 


§25. Summary Review. 

Before we pass on to show how the Lord brought about providential 
arrangements to rescue these people, let us take a condensed view of the 
situation of these Pennsylvanians, from the close of the war until the year 
1800. 

A third generation began to make its appearance. Immigration had 
to a great extent subsided, but the natural increase was very abundant, al- 
most in every house there was “a joyful mother of children,” which the 
Bible declares to be a divine blessing. A peculiar ‘“ German-Pennsyl- 
vanian” dialect was already largely developed, and these native Germans 
considered themselves true Americans. and there existed a wide chasm 
between their views, habits and the current language and those of newly 
arrived Germans.* 

The aforementioned Pennsylvanian dialect now became largely inter- 
spersed with English words with a corrupted pronunciation, and the peculiar 

~“tircumstances produced some original forms of expression. The Moravians. 
and the older Schwenkfelders, however, adhered to the German language 
proper, but generally the Pennsylvanian dialect prevailed in the German 
counties of the State, even until this day. 

But notwithstanding the uncouthness of this dialect it has valuable 
features. An original force, freshness and compactness inheres init. One 
might, by way of illustration, say: Whilst the scholarly German respects 
all the turns, inflexions, and corners of the German proper the Pennsylvan- 
ian runs by his forcible and concentrated words and sentences straight 
across the field and thus directly toward his goal. Remarkably, too, this 
Galilean German may becast into a beautiful and highly interesting poetic 
form, of which we find splendid examples in Harbaugh’s “Harfe.”t And 
when the German Pennsylvanian intends to give his established “opinion” 
on a given subject he can do so in a very impressive and emphatic manner 
in prose. And when angry he is capable of profanity and billingsgate and 
such epithets as may not be put on paper — and in villification he is simply 
unsurpassable. 

§ 26. Some Peculiarities of the German Pennsylvanians, 

Notwithstanding the religious deterioration of these people they re- 
tained some excellent characteristics : 


*) A state of feeling developed between the German-Pennsylvanians and fresh 
German immigrants similar to that which exists’ between the Germans and Alsatians 
in Europe. Although radically German himself the Pennsylvanian had become en- 
tirely Americanized in his feelings and sentiments. A new arrival from Europe would 
— sometimes with a shade of derision — be called ‘a German.’ And if he happened 
to come from Heasia, the prejudice was much stronger, because the Hessians had shed 
German-American blood during the Revolutionary war. 


tSee also Vierteljahrsschrift No.1, 1884. 


-1800.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 31 


1. They were honest in their dealings and business transactions. A 
shrewd defrauder — ‘an ear-slit Jew’— they could not endure, they hated 
such a character, as the horse thief is detested in the West. 

2. A promise made was deemed as sacred as a written contract. 

3. ‘To pay one’s debts was with them a main thing. 

4. Industry, economy and domestic affection, the care of children for 
parents in old age was considered as lofty a virtue as the care of children 
by their parents. 

5. Mutual help without remuneration, in time of need, as for instance, 
in case of fire, severe sickness, funerals, heavy losses by accident, etc., was 
a sacred principle of the unwritten code of neighborhoods. 

6. Their manner was frank and straightforward. They knew nothing 
of Chesterfieldian etiquette and customs. But their frankness would some- 
times run into rudeness of speech. They were not at all dude-like. Among 
them were not a few peculiar, original and interesting characters. 

7. Notwithstanding their general wickedness, which manifested itself 
chiefly in levity, profanity, drinking, fighting, dancing and indulgence in the 
so-called “frolics,” they were by no means atheists. Such would be regard-* 
ed as moral monsters. In spite of moral and ecclesiastical deterioration 
they were still inclined to be somewhat Churchly. Preaching, baptism 
and the Lord’s Supper were not entirely thrown overboard. If no regular 
pastor could be obtained they would make temporary arrangements with 
any ecclesiastical nondescript, who might have happened along, if he had 
but a glib tongue, and had sufficient skill to act as pastor. But when a 
herald of the Gospel appeared, calling sinners to repentance, insisting on 
a living faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and a renewed, godly life, then their 
zeal for their supposed “faith ” would excite them almost to madness, sup- 
posing that such a preacher was a fanatic and seducer, who would induce 
people to apostatize from “the faith,’ and then “they would be lost for- 
ever and ever!” Of this we shall see many examples further on, 


§ 27. Some Peculiar Conditions of Things. 


It seems quite proper at this juncture to glance at several peculiar 
facts of the times under consideration. There existed great poverty in 
regard to literature. Only a few secular papers were published in German 
—religious ones none at all, The Allentown Friedensbote (Messenger of 
Peace) and the Readinger Adler (Reading Eagle) were the leading period- 
icals — about as large as our present Sunday-school papers. Books were 
quite scarce beside those few copies which the ancestors had brought with 
them from Europe. Money to buy books with or to secure a scholarly educa- 
tion was likewise scarce. The paper money which congress had issued in 
abundance toward the close of the war had become worthless, because it 
could not be redeemed with coin,* Gold and Silver had not yet been dis- 





*) This so-called ‘continental money” had become so utterly valueless that it 


39 HISTORY OF THE [1750~ 


covered in the United States, and they were dependent upon Mexico and 
South America for these metals. Public Schools had not been introduced; 
there existed only deficient private schools, in which reading, writing and 
arithmetic werespoorly taught. No canals were yet dug, no railroads built, _ 
and no telegraph existed; mail-service was imperfect and poorly managed. | 
There was a great lack of good country roads. The very first turnpike in 
this country, extending from Lancaster to Philadelphia, was completed as 
late as 1794. The farmer had no machines, excepting, perhaps, a “ wind- 
mill” turned by hand for cleaning grain, Public travel and intercourse was 
difficult and often quite dangerous. People, who, before the year 
1800, and even later, removed from Hastern Pennsylvania across the Ai- 
legheny mountains were not expected to be seen again in this life; and those 
who went further away, even into Ohio, were, according to popular concep- 
tion, gone to the ends of the earth! These things will frequently cast light: 
upon our history as we proceed, 


§ 28. Decadence of Religious Life. 

The religious condition of the population has already been portrayed. 
put in order to show that no improvement took place before the year 1800, 
we add a few somewhat later testimonies. Bishop John Seybert, who is an 
excellent authority, gives a faithful portrayal in a historical sketch as fol- 
lows: “About the year 1800 the German population of Pennsylvania con- 
nisted chiefly of Roman Catholics, Lutherans, Reformed, Mennonites, Old 
School and New School Baptists (Dunkers), Schwenkfelders, etc. The 
majority of Catholics, Lutherans and partly also the Reformed were guilty 
of gross violation of God’s law; profanity, Sabbath-desecration, drunken- 
ness, etc., being quite common among them. Baptism, confirmation, with 
an occasional reception of the Lord’s Supper, constituted the essentials of 
their religion. The preachers themselves, with but few exceptions, were 
wicked and hostile toward converted people. The Mennonites and Dunkers 
in general had a more pious exterior ; in reality they were, nevertheless, 
enemies to true experimental religion, which manifested itself among them 
and also among the Schwenkfelders, when persons were converted to God.” 

Mr. Seybert also described the sad state of the Church in his home at 
Manheim, Pa., not far from Mr, Albright’s neighborhood, in the following 
words: “The Roman Catholics, Lutheran and German Reformed Churches 
had their children baptized in infancy. When they reached the age of 12 
to 20 years, they attended catechetical instruction, and were afterward con- 
firmed, on which occasion the minister demanded of them, in the presence of 
God and all the people, to renounce Satan and sin and to serve God faith- 
fully until death ; then they were consecrated by the laying on of hands 
and declared to be Christians. This usually took place on Easter Sunday, 
but on Easter Monday these Christians could be seen in the ball-room, at 





became an expression of worthlessness and derision. ‘‘ Not worth a continental” — 
was applied to any worthless object in common conversation. 


—1800. | EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 33 


the drinking places, at gambling-tables; as also on Christmas, New Year 
and Pentecost. The majority of these pretended Christians, thus manu- 
factured, were a rough and wicked set —swearers, Sabbath-breakers and 
inebriates. Even some Church officials were drunkards, liars, and guilty of 
dishonesty and other sins, so that the saying became current: Noone ig 
fit to be a Church officer, unless he has an illegitimate child!” This pro- 
verb was, of course, intended to be ironical, but it indicated a great deal. 


§ 29. Testimonies of Pastors Schmucker, Kurtz and Nevin, 

The Lutheran Pastor J. G. Scumucxnr, D. D., states that about this 
time “the state of things in the German Churches wore a gloomy aspect, 
and that only a small number of the ministers composing the Synod to 
which he belonged, were in his opinion, converted men.” * 

Ina biography of Dr. Schmuckcr, deceased, which was published in the 
Lutheran Observer, Dr. Benjamin Kurtz says that the departed, when he 
took charge of several congregations at and about Hagerstown, Md., in 
1794, found the state of Christianity in a deplorable condition. After notic- 
ing the general spiritual ruin of the Churches, Dr. Kurtz goes on to say : 

“Sunday-schools, Bible-classes, prayer-meetings, weekly lectures, etc., 
had not yet been introduced. There were no stoves and no lamps in the 
Churches; night-meetings were regarded as new measures, and as tend- 
ing to fanaticism; though for dancing, playing cards, etc., they were 
thought to be very appropriate. Conversion was a strange word, and 
revivals were unknown. Methodists indeed, and they alone, talked about 
conversion ; and some few among them, we presume, knew from personal 
experience what it meant. In other Churches also, the Lord doubtless had 
his chosen few ; but they were like the gieanings of the olive tree, two or 
three on the topmost branches. The cock-pit, the race-course, the long- 
bullet lane, the dog and the bear fight, etc., were more numerously attended 
than the house of God. On the whole, darkness comparatively covered the 
land, and gross darkness the people.” 7 

This description of the congregations of Hagerstown and vicinity is a 
true picture of most congregations of the German Churches of this country 
in those days. Such was the state of things in a spiritual point of view, 
when the Evangelical Associatien took its origin. 

Again Dr. Kurtz speaks in the same periodical of a somewhar later 
period of time, having reference to the same subject, in this wise: “Some 
thirty-five years ago, when God in his mercy sanctioned our poor labors 
with a glorious outpouring of his Spirit, and for the first time in our ministry 
granted us a mighty revival, the opposition of the world and the devil was 
almost unparalleled. A revival in the Lutheran Church was a new thing 
in that day; we had never heard of but one, and that was in Bro. Reck’s 
Church, in Winchester, Va. He can testify to the bitterness, malevolence, 


*) Orwig’s History of the Ev. Association, p. 14. 
T) Lutheran Observer, No. 1107. 


34 Vo OPW LET A ANS ON a IN o Wo [1750- 


and awful wickedness which characterized the adversaries of such divine 
visitations in those days of ignorance, hardness of heart, and spiritual 
blindness. It seemed as if all hell were let loose. What was,—what could 
be done in the face of such fierce rebellion? If in view of the work itself, 
it was the happiest event of our ministry ; in connection with the diabolical 
hate and slander that enveloped it, it was one of the darkest periods of 
our life.” * 

Dr. Joun W. NEvIN, of the German Reformed Church, makes the fol- 
lowing statements with regard to the early condition of the Reformed 
Church: “To be confirmed and then to take the sacrament occasionally 
was counted by the multitude all that was necessary to make one a good 
Christian, if only a tolerable decency of outward life was maintained be- 
sides, without any regard at all to the religion of the heart. True, serious 
piety was indeed often treated with open and marked scorn. In the bosom. 
of the Church itself it was stigmatized as Schwdrmeret, Kopfhdngerei, or 
miserable driveling Methodism. The idea of a new birth was treated as a 
pietistic whimery. Experimental religion, in all its forms, was eschewed 
as a new-fangled invention of cunning impostors brought in to turn the 
heads of the weak, and to lead captive silly women. Prayer-meetings were 
held to be aspiritual abomination. Family worship was a species of saint- 
ly affectation, barely tolerable in the case of ministers — though some of 
them gloried in having no altar in their houses — but absolutely disgrace- 
ful for common Christians. To show an awakened concern on the subject 
of religion, a disposition to call on God in daily secret prayer was to incur 
certain reproach. ... The picture, it must be acknowledged, is dark, but 
not more so than the truth of history would seem to require.” } 

Is there need of more testimony to show the urgent necessity of a 
thorough reformation of the Germans in HKastern Pennsylvania, Maryland, 
etc. ? An abundance of it could be introduced, but what has been given, 
will suffice. 


§ 30. Philip Wilhelm Otterbein and Martin Boehm. 

God, who “is not willing that any should perish, but that all should 
come to repentance,” and who has made provision in his Son Jesus Christ 
for “all men to be saved, and come unto the knowledge of the truth,” also had 
mercy upon these unfortunate Germans. Whilst sin and moral ruin was 
spreading among them He was preparing his “chosen vessels’, and inaugu- 
rated movements intended to check the evil and bring about a change for 
the better. 

In the year 1752 Puitip WILHELM OTTERBEIN came from Nassau, 
Germany, as a Reformed minister, to Pennsylvania. He had been awakened 


*) Lutheran Observer, No. 1114. (Jan. 12th, 1855.) 

+) Nevin’s twenty-eighth lecture on the Heidelberg Catechism, published in 1842. 
Note. The above extract does not appear in the German edition of this history, be- 
cause it was not at hand when that was written. 


-1800.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 35 


already in Europe, and belonged to the so-called “Pietism”. During his 
pastorate in Lancaster, Pa., he found the precious peace of God and 
received the witness of the Holy Spirit that he was a child of God. He 
now commenced more earnestly preaching repentance, conversion and true 
godliness. This had its effect in the awakening and conversion of sinners, 
but on the other hand opposition and persecution arose. 

He found but few among the Reformed ministers who sympathized 
with him, such as Revs. Helffenstein, Hendel, Hautz and others, but the 
opponents were many. After some years he went to Tulpehocken, where 
he preached and introduced prayer-meetings, prayed with families in their 
homes, held experience meetings, and conversions took place ; but he could 
not stay there. 

MARTIN BoruM, who was born in Lancaster County, Pa., belonged to 
the Mennonites, and was, according to their custom, elected a minister of 
the Gospel. But he found that preaching the Gospel without personal sal- 
vation was impossible. This brought him into great distress concerning 
his own salvation, until he found peace with God in the year 1758. 

Now he preached with power and blessed effect. He was then ap- 
pointed a bishop among his people. A number of persons were awakened 
among the Mennonites and the affiliating Omish and Dunker persuasions, 
as also among the Reformed and Lutheran Churches. At a general meet- 
ing, which Martin Boehm held at Isaac Lang’s in Lancaster County—said 
to have taken place on Pentecost, 1766 — and which was attended by large 
numbers of awakened souls from among different denominations — some 
of which even had been stirred up previously by Count Zinzendorf’s labors 
—Otterbein unexpectedly appeared and heard Martin Boehm preach the 
Gospel. Otterbein recognized in this preacher a saved man and in his 
preaching the true Gospel, and this discovery so powerfully touched and 
joyfully moved him, that at the close of the sermon he hastened to Boehm, 
and, embracing him before all the people, exclaimed : “We are brethren!” * 

Boehm was afterwards expelled from the Mennonites on account of his 
earnest labors. Otterbein, Boehm, Gueting—who was also a Reformed 
minister—and others now labored among the Germans in Pennsylvania, 
Maryland and Virginia, and in consequence there gradually arose an asso- 
ciation known as “The United Brethren in Christ,” through which many 
souls were led to the Saviour. 

Bishop Francts Aspury—the Methodist pioneer bishop—had much 
fellowship with Boehm? and Otterbein, and this movement assumed a 
marked Methodistic character. But gradually it inclined, especially among 


*) Life of Rev. Philip William Otterbein, by Rev. A. W. Drury, A. M., pp. 116, 
117. 


Tt) Boehm’s son, Henry Boehm, became a Methodist and Asbury’s traveling com- 
panion and servant on his extensive tours in his old age. Henry Boehm also became 
a Methodist preacher, and died one hundred years old, 


36 HISTORY OF THE [1750- 


the young converts, toward the Methodist Episcopal Church; and although 
an organic union never took place between them this movement became in 
later times almost entirely English, so that the great work of saving the 
Germans was in a large degree left undone, 


§31. Bishop Asbury’s Views. 


Another reason why this movement did not benefit the Germans very 
much was, that the United Brethren at that time did not fully adopt the 
plan of an intinerant ministry and had no controlling, energetic leader. On 
this point Bishop Asbury, who was. very intimate with Boehm and Otter- 
bein, expressed his views as follows: ‘“ Why was not the German reforma- 
tion in the Middle States, that sprang up with Boehm, Otterbein and their 
helpers, more perfect ? Was money, was labor made a consideration with 
these primitive men? No; they wanted not the one and heeded not the - 
other. They all had had Church membership, as Reformed, Lutherans, 
Moravians, Dunkers, Mennonites, etc. The spiritual men of these societies 
generally united with the reformers; but they brought along with them 
their formalities, superstitions and peculiar opinions of religious education. 
There was no master-spirit to rise up, and organize, and lead them. Some 
of the ministers located, and only added to their charge, partial travelling 
Jabors, and all were independent. It remains to be proved, whether a re- 
formation, in any country, or under any circumstances, can be perpetuated 
without a well directed intinerancy. But these faithful men of God were 
not the less zealous in declaring the truth, because they failed to erect a 
Church government. This was wished for by many....... Otterbein, 
one of the wisest and best of men, could only approve ; when urged to put 
himself forward as a leader, his great modesty and diffidence of himseif, 
forbade his acceptance of so high a trust. His journeys, nevertheless, were 
long, his visits frequent, his labors constant, so that after he came to Bal- 
timore, he might be called a traveling preacher, until age and infirmities 
compelled him to be still,” etc,.* 

Martin Boehm had for many years after his rejection by the Mennonites 
preached the Gospel in brotherly fellowship with Otterbein and others and 
led many souls to the Saviour. With regard to position and influence he 
was second only to Otterbein. He also realized the need of an organiza- 
tion, but he did not desire to be the leader in this matter. He says: 
‘ Being convinced of the necessity of order and discipline in the Church 
of God, and having no wish to be at the head of a separate body, I advised 
serious persons to join the Methodists, whose doctrine, discipline, and zeal 
suited, as I thought, an unlearned, sincere, and simple-hearted people. 
Several of the ministers with whom I labored, continued to meet in con- 
ference of the German United Brethren, but we felt the difficulties from 


*) Methodist Magazine, Vol. VI., pp. 22, 249 and Bang’s History of the M. £. 
Church, Vol. II. pp. 365-67. 


-—1800. | EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 37 


the want of that which the Methodists possessed. Age having overtaken 
me with some of its accompanying infirmities, I] could not travel as I had 
formerly done. In 1802 I enrolled my name on a Methodist Class-book, 
and have found great comfort with my brethren.’* 


§ 32. Beginning of Methodism in America. 

Methodism in America was introduced in the city of New York during 
the years 1760-66 chiefly through a German woman, BARBARA HEcK, who 
had come from Ireland. She was one of Wesley’s converts, and gave the 
first impulse to this movement. But the Methodists followed up the Kng- 
lish population by their excellent itinerancy of heroic pioneers. How- 
ever, they also entered, to some extent, into Eastern Pennsylvania. Bishop 
Asbury on his remarkable episcopal tours frequently came from New 
England on his way to the South through that part of the State and 
stopped with Martin Boehm and other congenial men of God in Lancaster 
County. Benjamin Abbott, the extraordinary revivalist, also invaded that 
section about the year 1780. Several classes were established and the 
Methodist discipline introduced. A number of German Pennsylvanians 
were converted, and Henry Boehm, Jacob Gruber and a few others, having 
acquired the English language sufficiently, became Methodist preachers. 
But Asbury and his co-laborers discouraged special efforts in the German 
language, as they expected this language would become extinct in about 
twenty years. German immigration had almost ceased during and for 
some time after the Revolutionary war, and many young American Ger- 
mans acquired the English language. Thus the German Pennsylvanians 
received very little spiritual help from this direction. 


§ 33. Jacob Albright. 

JAcoB ALBRIGHT was born on the first day of May, 1759, near Potts- 
town, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, and grew up amidst the pre- 
viously described conditions and circumstances of the German Pennsy]l- 
vanians.{ The deluge of sin which flooded nearly all the people carried him 
also along. Of this he himself makes the following statement: “I walked 
frivolously in the path of a carnal life, rejoiced with those who rejoiced, 
and thought little of the object of human life, regarding not the duty of 


*) Rev. Adam Miller’s Origin and Progress of German Missions, pp. 238-39. 


+) Mrs. Heck was a descendant of the “Pfilzer,’”” who emigrated from the Rhen- 
ish Provinces to England and Ireland in 1708-10. 


t) We have already seen that Joun ALsricut (p. 15) had settled near Pottstown, 
Pennsylvania. He had four sons; the oldest, whose name cannot be ascertained, 
was slain in the Revolutionary war; the second son was Jacob, the founder of the 
Ey. Association; the third, whose name was Daniel, was a soldier in the second war 
with England 1812-14, and afterward moved to Ohio, and settled near Bucyrus, 
where he was visited by the German Methodist missionary, Dr. Witi1am Nast, in 
1837, and was in his old age converted to God; the fourth, named George, moved 
into Mifflin county, Pa. They were all staunch and honest men. 


38 PLES LOT Ve OF eed es [1750- 


man, much less that of a Christian. I lived as though this little span of 
duration would last eternally, and committed many sins for which God has 
threatened severe punishment.” 

True, he had been, in his youth, instructed in the catechism by a Lu- 
theran minister, and was afterwards confirmed and entered as a member of 
that Church in Douglas Township, Montgomery County, Pa. But, as we 
have already seen, the religious condition of the Churches at that time 
was very sad. ‘Nothing was known of true conversion. Of prayermeet- 
ings, Bible-readings, family devotions, Sunday-schools, revivals, etc., 
scarcely any trace could be found. There was hardly any form of godli- 
ness, and if the power thereof did occasionally manifest itself it was forth- 
with decried as fanaticism. ‘The salt —the Church — had lost its savor, 
and wherewith should it be salted ?’” * 


§ 34. His Marriage, Business and Family. 


In his 26th year (1785) he married Miss Catharine Cope, and soon 
afterwards removed from his native place to Lancaster County, and there 
commenced the brick and tile business, together with the cultivation of a 
small farm. He was a very industrious and methodical business man. As 
at that time many buildings were roofed with tiles, his business, which he 
thoroughly understood, was very profitable, hence within a few years he 
had acquired a competency for his family. 

As he received but very meagre pecuniary support during his ministry, 
he frequently returned home and prepared a kiln of brick or tiles, leaving 
his wife to dispose of them while he filled his appointments. In this 
way he supported his family during his itinerancy, hence the accusations 
of his enemies that he neglected his family are false. Had he not been 
called into the ministry, he would in all probability have become a wealthy 
man ; for, notwithstanding his great sacrifices for the cause of Christ, his 
administrator reported his estate to be worth about four thousand dollars 
which was, at that time, regarded a considerable fortune. Through his 
business he became widely known, and his strict honesty and punctuality 
commanded the respect of his neighbors and customers, among whom he 
was known as the “honest tiler.” And this title, which the founder of the 
Kvangelical Association won through his business, is no more dishonorable 
to him and the Evangelical Association, than it is for Christ and his 
Church to have it said of Him: “Is not this the carpenter, Mary’s son?” 

He was blessed with a family of nine children of whom, however, only 
three — two sons and one daughter — survived him. After his conversion 
he felt an intense desire for the conversion of his children. When he was 
at one time leaving his home to fill several appointments in company with 
one of his co-laborers, he remarked to him: “ It makes a person feel sad to 
’ go out into the world to preach repentance and conversion, when one’s own 





*) Albright and his Co-Laborers, pp. 20, 21. 


-—1800.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 39 


family is yet unconverted, but I have still hope for my Sarah” (meaning 
his daughter), In this hope he was not disappointed. A number of his 
grandchildren by his youngest son David were also converted and became 
useful members of the Church.* 


§35. His Awakening and Severe Penitential Struggle. 

After he had removed to Lancaster County and until the year 1790 he 
at times felt the operations of “the grace of God which bringeth salva- 
tion” upon his heart, to lead him to repentance. His conscience upbraided 
him on account of his sins, and a purpose was gradually formed to com- 
mence “a better life.”— “However,” he says, “this resolution remained 
only a plan, which was not executed, because the carnal mind opposed it.” 

While Albright was thus vacillating between light and darkness, it 
pleased the Lord, in the year 1790, to afflict his family with sickness, 
and several of his children died. He regarded this as a chastisement and 
realized that the hand of the Lord was heavily upon him. At the fu- 
neral of his children a German, Reformed minister, named Anton Hautz,t 
who had the reputation of being a converted man, officiated. The word of 
God found way to his heart, which was already very contrite, so that he 
was deeply impressed and became willing to seek the Lord immediately. 

Albright informs us that whilst he was ina state of repentance the 
truths which he had learned in his youth through catechetical instruction 
were so quickened by the Holy Spirit that this good seed now began to 
germinate. The realization of his sins and the sinful state of his heart 
became quite clear and deep. Even the evil “thoughts and intents of the 
heart”? were discovered to his spiritual eye, and he “found trouble and 
sorrow” (Ps. 116, 3.). Now he realized that prayer had become an im- 
perative need. We again quote his language: “As my heartrealized this 
keen sense of sorrow, and this resolution to reform was formed in my soul, 
I also felt the need of prayer and of pouring out my heart before God. 
I felt that I had power to pray ardently, heartily, and with submission. 
I fell upon my knees ; tears of bitter sorrow flowed down my cheeks, and 
a long, intense, and fervent prayer ascended to the throne of God for 
mercy and the remission of my sins.” 

Such language furnishes incontrovertible proof that Albright's repent- 
ance was neither superficial nor the work of man. It was the work of the 
Holy Spirit who applied the word of God and the divine law in such a way 
to his conscience, that he was brought into the condition of the awakened 


*) Albright and his Co-laborers, pp. 13-16. 


Tt) This Parson Hautz was one of the very few preachers of repentance of those 
times. Ata place called Lansing, he found it necessary to speak often on repent- 
ance. One of the members evidently thought there was enough of it and remarked to 
him: “ You have preached a good while on repentance; preach something else.”’ ‘As 
soon as you repent,” was the quick reply. Harbaugh’s Fathers of the German Re- 
formed Church, Vol. II, p. 370. 


40 HISTORY, OF (LITE [1750- 


sinner, which Paul describes in the seventh chapter of Romans, and like 
unto him cried out: “O, wretched man that I am! —Who shall deliver me 
from the body of this death ?” 

In the month of July 1791 (when he was in his thirty-second year) 
he reached a crisis which bordered on despair — and yet there had appeared 
no “Ananias’* to point him to the Saviour of sinners. 





§ 36. Grace Triumphs—-A Sound Conversion. 

At last, after long and painful seeking, help came inwardly and out- 
wardly— Albright and his ‘“‘Ananias” met each other. Of this, Bishop 
Seybert, who was a contemporary and neighbor of Albright, speaks as fol- 
lows: “Albright began to weep, fast and pray. After he had for some time 
sought help and counsel from God and man, he visited a man named 
Adum Riegel, an earnest and zealous minister, not, however, connected | 
with any religious denomination. This man took an interest in him and 
prayed and labored with him until he realized the pardon of his sins and 
eternal life in his soul, and thus found peace, comfort and joy in the blood 
of Christ, and was so overwhelmingly filled with divine joy, that he knew 
not how to praise and magnify the Lord.” This took place in Adam 
Riegel’s house.t 

Albright was now happily delivered out of the horrible pit and his 
feet placed upon Jesus Christ, the Rock of Ages. A new song was put 
into his mouth to praise his God, and with a compassionate look upon his 
German neighbors and brethren he desired that many might see it and fear 
and trust in the Lord. (Psalm 40, 1-3) “Now,” he says, “it was no more 
a burden to do that which is good; [ was inclined to hate sin, it was a 
pleasure to serve the Lord, and I realized great joy in having intercourse with 
God in prayer.” . 

“From all this it is very evident that Albright’s conversion was not a 
pretended nor a superficial one — it was a genuine and thorough change of 
the heart. It was not merely an awakening from the sleep of sin, a reali- 
zation of the burden of sin accompanied with good resolutions and a par- 
tial reformation, but it was a spiritual resurrection, a passing from spiritual 
death unto divine life, a genuine renewal of the heart after the image of 
God, a delivery from the power of darkness and a translation into the 
slorious Kingdom of the Son of God. Genuine contrition, a deep sense of 
his wretchedness and lost condition out of Christ, attended with painful 
sorrow and sadness, had preceded, and while in this state of mind he lay at 


—_—. 


*) Acts 9, 10-18. 


+) This man Riegel was a lay-preacher, such as God sometimes calls and employs 
when the exigencies of the times demand it, as was the case then. He was an un- 
denominational preacher. It was a time when the Word of God was ‘‘searce and 
dear,” and under Divine Providence there were those who cast out devils in Christ's 
name, but did not follow Him with the “regulars.” And again the Lord said: “Fore 
bid him not.” (Mark 9, 39.) 


-1800.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 41 


the feet of Christ, bitter tears flowing down his cheeks.. God granted him 
the assurance, that there was salvation for him, that He would accept him 
for Christ’s sake and complete the work already begun within him. As soon 
as he was persuaded of God’s willingness to accept him, he was enabled to 
believe with the heart and the pardon of his sins, life and holy joy followed 
this exercise of faith.’”* 

After his conversion Albright and Riegel had blessed seasons together 
in preaching, prayer, and other devotional meetings in Riegel’s house and 
elsewhere. There was at that time a considerable awakening among the 
Germans of Lancaster County, but those awakened and newly converted 
were regarded as apostates and fanatics; their lively and fervent worship 
was frowned upon, and they were, in most cases, expelled from their 
Churches. They then met by themselves and edified each other as best they 
could under those unfavorable circumstances. — 


§ 37. Albright a Methodical Man. 

He was constitutionally a methodical man. In the Lutheran Church 
he was now regarded as a fanatic and driven away from it. The people 
who had become awakened through the labors of Otterbein, Boehm and 
others were not yet willing as before stated, to unite as an organized 
Church. Many of them held the view that a Church having strict order 
and discipline is “a yoke of bondage” against which the apostle Paul 
warns believers. Of them Bishop Seybert spoke thus: “From these and 
others there came into existence a sort of association to which in the be- 
cinning various names were applied, such as Otterbein people, Boehmians, 
Impartials, General or Liberty people, because they would not come 
under Church discipline. Everyone should and would stand alone and at 
the same time be united in spirit and mutual labor.t Nevertheless 
experience taught them that without organization and a good Church dis- 
cipline no Christian association can exist and prosper, hence they were led 
in later times to unite, and adopted the name: The United Brethren in 
Christ.” t 

§ 38. Rev. Benjamin Abbott’s Labors in Albright’s Neighborhood— 

A Methodist Class. 

This wonderful man Abbott —to whom we have previously referred — 
came from New Jersey about the year 1780, and went like a flaming herald 
through Lancaster County. Martin Boehm entertained him. Abbott 
preached English and others exhorted in German, but the power of God 
penetrated farther than languages, and many sinners were shaken and 


*) Orwig’s History of the Evangelical Association, p. 12. 

+) This revival produced some earnest and godly preachers, such as Philip Wil- 
helm Otterbein, Martin Boehm, Benedict Swope, George Adam Gueting, Christian 
Newcomer, Abraham Troxel, Abraham and Christian Herschy, Christopher Grosch, 
Felix Licht and others. ; 

t) Albright and his Co-laborers, p. 37. 


42 HISTORY OF THE [1750- 


brought to God. Bishop Asbury frequently passed through those parts and 
Martin Boehm was one of his intimate friends. From these labors arose 
several English,classes, one of which was formed in Albright’s neighbor- 
hood. His immediate neighbor — their farms adjoined each other — J/saac 
Davies, was their class-leader. 

These Methodists were at that time very plain and earnest Christians, 
worshipping, of course, in the English language. Persecuted by the uncon- 
verted world and under Asbury’s regimé strictly disciplined, they were 
closely united and endeavored under much self-denial to live in accordance 
with the Word of God. 

Albright’s views and disposition did not agree with the views of the 
“ Liberty-people” mentioned before. He saw great danger in such an un- 
churchly standpoint and realized that he himself needed the care and en- 
couragement of his brethren in Christ. On this point he says: ‘After I 
had experienced the grace of regeneration, I soon recognized the fact that 
the surest and best way to work out my soul’s salvation, and to be ready at 
all times to fight the good fight of faith, was, to be in fellowship with 
devout Christians, and to take part in bearing the cross, to pray for and 
with one another, to be vigilant and edify each other by means of an exem- 
plary life in the service of God.’ 

It is clear from this that Albright had no desire to stand aloof from 
the Church, or to labor independently for personal aggrandizement, as has 
been falsely asserted. This thought never entered his mind, but on the 
contrary, he preferred to serve God, and to bear the cross in fellowship with 
other pious Christians. But as he was not tolerated in his own Church he 
had to seek association with other pious followers of Christ. 


§ 39. Albright Joins the Methodist Episcopal Church. 


Guided by these views he looked about to find a Church which served 
the Lord and administered proper Church discipline. The result of this 
prospecting he states as follows: “At this time | knew of no Association of 
professed Christians who seemed to be more zealous and active, and whose 
discipline and regulations suited me better, than the Methodists. For this 
reason I united with them and found among them opportunity to receive 
great blessings and benefit for my soul. As many things in their mode of 
worship were not yet clear to me, since it was conducted in the English 
language, with which I was not sufficiently familiar at this time, I earnest- 
ly endeavored to learn the language and become acquainted with their doc- 
trine and discipline, with which I was much pleased. I conformed to its 

regulations, both in my conduct and devotions.” * 





*) Bishop Seybert reports the state of religion among the Methodists at this time 
as follows: “Among the English people many were truly converted to God, and be- 
longed to the Methodist Church, leading a humble Christian life, serving God in 
spirit, and preaching powerfully. These were a blessing to the nation, and brought 
many to a change of heart and mind. But wherever these people served God zeal- 
ously and led holy lives they were hated and persecuted by the world.” 


-1800. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 43 


Here we see one of the excellent traits of Albright’s character. He 
was a man of much reflection who did not act hastily in important matters. 
He did not permit himself to be swayed by the opinions of others, even of 
good people, and chose not to follow the way of so-called “freedom” from 
Church discipline which many well-meaning people followed, but selected 
for himself a Church in which one had at that time to bear much persecu- 
tion and many crosses, and whose members had to assist in bearing Church- 
burdens —, and this he did from the conviction that their Church-order 
was the best, and “that this was the right way to work out his salvation.” 
Because of this conviction he did not shrink from the task of learning the 
English language in order that he might be able tocomply with all the duties 
of a Church-member. We thus see the thoughtful, faithful and decided 
character of the man. 

He could not have been induced to take this step from motives of am- 
bition or office-seeking. There was certainly no prospect for a German, such 
as he was, to obtain high offices in an English Church. And, as already men- 
tioned, the Methodists of that day had no expectation that the German 
language would live long in this country. Bishop Seybert informs us that 
the leaders of that Church believed that in twenty years the German 
language would die out in the United States! How truly the apostle Paul 
has said: ‘“‘Here we know in part!” 

Albright had now found an ecclesiastical home which was to him alto- 
gether congenial. He enjoyed blessed communion with God and was happy 
in redeeming love, but had as yet no intimation to what a great work the 
Lord would call him in the future. 


§ 40. His Zeal for the Lords; He Is Made an Exhorter. 


Not only did he and Adam Riegel labor together in devotional meet- 
ings after his conversion, but after he had joined the Methodists his activ- 
ity was developed still further. Of this he speaks as follows: “In the 
class and prayer-meetings of the Methodists my joy in God increased con- 
tinually, and I received power to pray impressively in ‘public, to the edifi- 
cation of myself and others. Thus J obtained more and more strength, and 
occasionally, at the request of my fellow Christians, I delivered an exhort- 
ation, which did not remain fruitless.” In view of this fact he received a 
written license as an exhorter, which office at that time occupied a place 
between the class-leader and local preacher. As there was at that time a 
religious movement in progress among the Germans in Lancaster county— 
as mentioned heretofore—occasional opportunities offered themselves to 
deliver a word of exhortation to them. 

Until now the thought of preaching had not entered his mind, and he 
placed no high estimate upon his gifts in this respect. Hesays: “Na- 
turally I had no talent to speak in public, and I frankly confess that I was 
less qualified in this respect than any other one who might have undertaken 

4 


44 HISTORY OF THE [1750- 


it." But when the Spirit of God was upon him, his talent, which was as 
yet undeveloped, became manifest. He further says: “But when I felt 
myself carried away by the Spirit of God, when prayer brought my soul 
near to my Redeemer, when I was animated with a hatred against sin, when 
the righteousness of a scrutinizing judge appeared before me, and I at the 
same time realized God’s overwhelming love towards his fallen creatures, 
I was seized with an influence which loosened my tongue, and God’s grace 
wrought through me the conversion of fallen sinners and of unconverted 
professors of religion and the edification of true believers.” * 

However, not afew who heard him preach have asserted that his talent 
for public speaking was of a much higher order than he in his modesty 
represents it. He was rich in thought, unctuous in delivery, usually his 
whole heart was moved with his subject, his appearance was attractive, his 
gestures naturally graceful and becoming, in fine he possessed all the 
requirements of true eloquence. 


$41. Fervent Prayer for His “German Brethren.” 


Thus Albright spent several years among the Methodists, and as he 
grew in the knowledge and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ he saw still 
clearer into what a depth nominal Christianity had fallen among the Ger- 
mans in America. He saw in them hzs kinsmen and longed intensely that 
they also might enjoy that salvation which he had found. “In this state 
of mind,” says he, “I frequently cast myself upon my knees and implored 
God with burning tears that he might lead my German brethren into the 
knowledge of the truth, that he would send them true, exemplary teachers, 
who preach the Gospel in its power, in order to awaken the dead and slum- 
bering religious professors out of their sleep of sin, and bring them again 
to the true life of godliness, so that they too might become partakers of 
the blessed peace with God and the fellowship of the saints. In this man- 
ner I daily prayed for my brethren.’’} Here we have an example of genuine 
intercessory prayer wrought by the Holy Spirit, which is “good and 
acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour.” (1 Tim. 2, 3.) 


§ 42. The Divine Call. 


“Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest 
is holy ground” (Genesis 3,5). Thus spake the Lord to Moses when He 
called him to deliver his people out of Egypt. And let everyone who reads 
this, and especially every minister of the Evangelical Association, remem- 
ber that he is entering upon holy ground, and let him listen with reverence 
to the intercourse which was held in the holy of holies of Albright’s soul 
between himself and God. But let the scoffer and slanderer hold his 
peace, for this isa sacred hour, In these solemn moments the Evangelical 


*) Albright and his Co-laborers, pp. 46, 47. 
J) Albright and his Co-laborers, p. 48. 


ye a a 


~1800. | EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 45 


Association was conceived in the heart of this chosen man through the 
divine call to the ministry. 

Being upon his knees, thus interceding for his people, as it were, the 
divine answer came, but not as he expected it. Let us now listen to his 
own statement concerning this divine communication: “While I thus held 
intercourse with God, all at once it seemed to become light in my soul; I 
heard, as it were, a voice within, saying: ‘Is it mere chance that the 
wretched condition of your brethren has affected your heart so much? Is 
it chance, that your heart, yea, even your heart, is so overcome with sym- 
pathy for the salvation of your brethren? Is not the hand of Him here 
visible whose wisdom guides the destiny of individuals as well as that of 
nations? What, if His infinite love, which desires to lead every soui into 
Abraham’s bosom, has chosen you to lead your brethren into the path of 
life, and to prepare them to share in the mercy of God!’ The light and 
peace in my soul increased. I felt a holy confidence that my prayers were 
acceptable, and I heard, as it were, the voice of God, ‘Go, work in my 
vineyard; proclaim to my people the Gospel in its primitive purity with 
_ energy and power, trusting in my fatherly love that all those who hear and 
believe shall partake of my grace’.” 

Of such a call to such a work Albright had never thought and had 

never put forth any effort to become a minister. When he thus clearly 
recognized the divine call his nature shrank back, as is often the case 
with true servants of God. Concerning this fact he further says: “Al- 
though these things were very clear to my mind, yet nature suggested 
many doubts. Though this call did not seem to me to be in conflict with 
God and his Word, yet, I thought, I am an uneducated and very ordinary 
man; how many persons of great gifts and learning there are who woulk 
be much better instruments than I am, persons who command much more 
respect and would make a better impression. During such reflections my 
courage failed me, and then I prayed earnestly, that God might give this 
commission to some one else, better qualified and worthier than I.” 

It must be clear to the candid mind that self-importance, greed of 
honor, and selfishness did not even enter, much less govern this man, Con- 
scious of his own weakness and insufficiency he hesitated in view of the 
greatness of the work. 

Henceforth his inner experience became very interesting. His timid 
heart clung to excuses, but conscience spoke freely and loudly for God. 
“To such excuses,” he continues, “the voice of my conscience constantly 
answered that on my part there must be a confiding obedience, without 
murmuring ; God’s grace would be sufficient ; would qualify those whom 
the Lord had chosen as instruments of his all-comprehensive love, with 
power from on high, and give great blessings and success to their efforts. 
Conscience also glowingly pictured the joy and the reward which were 
awaiting me, if I were obedient to the divine call, and on the other 


46 HISTORY OF THE [1750- 


hand, showed me the injury and ruin which would result to me if I refused 
to obey the voice of God, and to submit to his will. In the distant future I 
saw the glittering crown that awaited me if I obeyed, as I was often 
clearly convinced that I should, the call of the Lord, to proclaim His King- 
dom through the Gospel, and to build up the Church in united fellowship, 
upon Christ the Rock and Foundation-Stone of believers, according to the 
command of Christ and his apostles.” 


' § 43. Hesitating. 


Still he hesitated to obey the voice of God. He shrank more and more 
from the great responsibility, which brought great darkness and confusion 
upon him. He was not an enthusiast. On the contrary he “counted the 
costs,” and estimated them almost too highly. But let him tell the remark- 
able story of his inward experience at this time: “Thus the ebb and tide 
passed through my soul. Notwithstanding the full conviction of a Divine 
Call, my flesh and blood would still raise many objections, so that I often 
became undecided whether to obey or not, and thereby was deeply dis- 
tressed and cast down. A great weight seemed to rest upon me; I had no 
enjoyment by day, nor rest by night. [I became so low-spirited that noth- 
ing was able to cheer me—my inward peace fled, and the idea that it would 
be almost impossible, without the assistance of others, without any ecclesi- 
astical connection, only increased my anxiety, All the external dangers and 
difficulties that would, under such circumstances, come upon me, were viv- 
idly placed before my imagination. I trembled in these hours of tempta- 
tion, notwithstanding that I had God’s promises on my side. This was es- 
pecially the case when I considered that I would be compelled to stand 
alone without any reliable support —- for I was convinced God would 
prove me through trials. And yet, notwithstanding these doubts, the con- 
sciousness was wrought within me, that God was mighty in the weak, that 
he would ask no more than I was able to perform, that the courage he im- 
parted and the grace given, would be sufficient to achieve victory and suc- 
cess, if his honor and glory were kept in view. I was also convinced of 
his power, that all sufficiency comes from him, and that he would qualify 
those who do his good pleasure, as I afterward often realized.” Finally he 
gave his consent to the divine call and said to his Master: “ Here am I, 
send me.” 


§ 44. Delay, Chastisement, Obedience. 


The cause of the Lord requires haste, when His time has come, for there 
are immortal souls at stake. When the Lord has said, “ Go, work in my 
vineyard,” it is meant in earnest. He would not permit a certain man first 
to go home and take leave of his friends, and another, first to bury his 
father. If one has plainly understood the call of the Lord and consented 
thereto, it is perilous to delay. This was also Albright’s experience, con- 
cerning which let us now also hear him: “ But the execution of this call I 


-1800. | EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 47 


deferred from time to time. I still imagined I saw a difficulty, and when 
this was removed I[ persuaded myself of the existence of another. For this 
indecision the Lord finally chastised me with severe afflictions. A constant 
cutting pain penetrated every nerve, almost unbearable torment coursed 
through my frame; my body became emaciated and nothing was left of 
me but a mere skeleton. My muscular system became so weakened, that I 
could perform no labor of any kind, and worse than all bodily sufferings, 
was the terrible feeling which at times overcame my soul as though I was 
entirely forsaken of God. What I endured in body and in mind, during 
this sickness is indescribable, Sometimes, in the feeling of being forsaken 
of God, I cried out in such anguish, that all who saw and heard me, turned 
away in horror.” 

Is it safe, either to resist or neglect the divine call to preach the Gos- 
pel? Let the experience of Albright be the answer. Like Jonah he had 
to pass through a terrible ordeal, and like him he became now willing to 
obey immediately if the Lord would but have compassion and restore him, 
whereupon the peace of God returned to his soul, and he was quickly re- 
stored to health.—He now saddled his horse and rode forth into the great 
field without further counselling with himself or any other human being. 
This great step—so important for him and hundreds of thousands of his 
fellow-men—he took in the month of October, 1796. He preached the 
Gospel wherever he found an opportunity—in churches, school-houses, 
market-places, private residences, barns, meadows, roads, or in the woods, 
and “the hand of the Lord was with him,” in the awakening and conver- 
sion of many wandering souls to the true shepherd, Jesus Christ.* 


§45. A Chosen Vessel. 


“ He is a chosen vessel unto me.” This word of the Lord concerning 
Paul, (Acts 9, 15.), also applied in a measure to JaAcoB ALBRIGHT. 

The candid reader cannot avoid seeing clearly, that for the rescue of a 
people situated as were the Germans of Pennsylvania at this time, a man 
was needed who was one of them, had grown up with them, could converse 
with them in their dialect, and who understood all their peculiarities—a 
man also who was soundly converted, filled with love toward them, and 
was called of God and sent to them to proclaim that salvation which he 
himself realized by blessed experience—a man, moreover, who also 
possessed the genius and energy to place newly converted souls under 
good Church discipline and proper care, that they might be raised spirit- 
ually to be men and fathers in Christ, and would thus become a blessing 
to humanity and be themselves saved eternally. Such a man was Jacob 
Albright. — It is also very remarkable that Albright was first led into the 
Methodist Church, in which he remained until he had become acquainted 


*) For fuller details concerning his call see Albright and his Co-laborers, pp. 47-55. 


48 Vp AEM ERS MD BD HOLY or fa [1750- 


with their excellent discipline and made its principles his own, before the 
Lord called him to his special work. 


§ 46. An Itinerant Preacher and an Organizer. 


Here is now, an itinerant preacher and an organizer—two cardinal points 
for the pressing wants of that time. He was not bound to a local congrega- 
tion, nor embarrassed by an incoherent congregational system. He could 
go to seek and gather the lost ones, and could introduce the ttinerancy 
among the Germans who were scattered far and wide, and spiritually neg- 
lected, and organize them into Church fellowship, and only in this manner 
could they be rescued. 

The Lord said unto him, as unto Jeremiah : “ Thou shalt go unto all that 
I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.” 
Albright went forth and spoke in the name of the Lord,—And without this 
divine commission he could not have ventured upon such an all-important 
enterprise. 

A man of such clear, and practical sense, possessed of a calculating mind, 
who clearly comprehended the extraordinary difficulties connected with such 
a work, could not have resolved upon it without the divine call and pressure. 
The Evangelical Association can never thank the “only wise” God suffi- 
ciently, that by his grace he gave them—denominationally speaking—a 
founder who was neither a fanatic nor a self-seeking man, who “did not run 
before he was sent,” but a man who was considerate, cautious, converted and 
consecrated to God ; who was by his own experience of the deep misery of 
sin and the great salvation through Christ, prepared to preach to his own 
countrymen the Word of God, both out of the Bible and out of his own heart 
into their hearts. 


§ 47, Beginning of his Missionary Labors. 


After Albright had preached a few times in his neighborhood he made a 
trip to his native county — Montgomery, — and came into one of the 
Schwenkfelder settlements.* Of his labors among them an eye-witness f 
reported as follows: ‘On the occasion of the burial of a deceased child of 
a Schwenkfelder family, in Upper Hanover Township, Montgomery County, 
Pa., a stranger arrived at the house where the funeral took place, and asked 





*) “The Schwenkfelders,’’ already mentioned before, are a small denomination 
of about 1000 members who are closely united. They had at the time referred to 
(1796) much among them that was praise-worthy and also some very good books, es- 
pecially an excellent Catechism, of which Rev. William W. Orwig made a liberal use 
in compiling the second Catechism for the Evangelical Association published in 1846. 
They were at the time when Albright visited them not yet carried far away by the 
flood of depravity and worldliness, comparativelly speaking, although there are letters 
extant from that time, which contain loud complaints of worldly-mindedness among 
their members. 


+) Samuel Schultz, Sen. 


- 


~1800. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 49 


permission of the preacher, Rev. George Kriebel, to give an exhortation to 
the assembled congregation, saying that he was an evangelical preacher, 
Being plainly attired, and his appearance making a good impression, the 
desired permission was given, This stranger was Mr. Albright, who now 
accompanied the funeral procession to the ‘‘ meeting-house,” and took a seat 
beside the preacher behind the table—there being no pulpit in the house.* 
In whispers the inquisitive people inquired of each other who this stranger 
might be, but no one could tell.. The sermon over, Mr. Albright, to the 
surprise of the people, arose and delivered a powerful exhortation, He then 
asked for permission to preach there, whicb request was readily granted, 
and an appointment made for him on acertain Saturday, in day-time. At the 
time appointed he preached on Matthew 25, of the great final judgment, so 
powerfully and yet pathetically as to cause tears to flow freely. A second 
appointment was made there, and afterwards a third in another meeting- 
house in the so-called Hosensack. 

“Meanwhile persecution arose against the good man. Most shameful 
inventions and lying rumors against him were spread abroad. He was 


represented to the Schwenkfelders as a most abandoned character.t 


“This embarrassed the people, and they prohibited his further preaching 
in their meeting houses, Thereafter a Schwenkfelder named David Schultz, 
permitted Albright to preach in his house, which he did several times, but 
without any visible results at that time. Some thirty years afterward, how- 
ever, a rich soul-harvest took place in that region.” 

Mr. Albright traveled, preached and labored wherever he found open 
doors in the eastern counties of Pennsylvania, especially in Lancaster, 
Berks, Bucks and Northampton, also west of the Susquehanna river through 
Northumberland, York and Cumberland counties, through the State of 
Maryland, and in Virginia among the large German settlements in the 
Shenandoah Valley. ‘Thus he labored in the name of the Lord, who gave 
him many precious souls for his reward who acknowledged him as their 
spiritual father, regarding him with high esteem and clinging to him with 
strong attachment; but they were widely scattered and isolated. 

Until the year 1800, four years after he started out as itinerant preacher, 
no step had been taken anywhere with a view to an organization of con- 
gregations, much less of a denomination. Albright had at that time no in- 
tention of this kind. He first of all desired to obey the voice of God, who 
had called him to lead the neglected Germans to the Shepherd and Bishop 
of their souls. What else might need to be done he left to the future 
indications of Providence. 


*) It was a log house built in the most primitive style. 

+) One of the ugliest mis-deeds which these calumniators endeavored to fasten 
upon Albright had been committed by a so-called Lutheran “Pfarrer.’’ Said ‘Pfarrer’’ 
was a fugitive criminal from Germany who officiated for awhile about Columbia and 
York, Pa., but had no connection withany Synod. We could give name and details, but, 
figuratively speaking, pen and paper object. 


50 HISTORY OF THE {1750- 


$48. Why Did Not Albright Remain in the Methodist Church? 


In Albright’s time the Methodist Episcopal Church strictly adhered to 
the rule that their members must attend class-meeting, and repeated absence 
involved the loss of membership. Albright had found a congenial church 
home in that denomination, but the work the Lord gave him to do led him 
away from it, as during his itinerancy he could not attend class-meetings. 
Otherwise he would have remained a Methodist, probably all his life-time. 
The assertion made that Albright left the Methodists because they would 
not ordain him, is a pure fiction. Nothing of that kind occurred. The 
Methodist leaders did not intend to have a German work at that time, but 
Albright had to obey the Lord in this matter. 


oe Fs 


-—1800. | EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION, 51 


SECOND PERIOD. 
1800—1816. 


res 


BEGINNING AND PROGRESS OF DENOMINATIONAL 
ORGANIZATION. 


§ 49. The Spiritual Inception. of the Evangelical Association. 


A communication by the Rev. Henry Stetzel— now in glory — fur- 
nishes a report of a private meeting attended by Albright and a few bre- 
thren when they specially agreed together “to go forward with the work of 
the Lord.” This meeting took place even previous to the formation of the 
three classes in 1800, but as it was not a business meeting, no record of it 
was kept. The author was well acquainted with Father Charles Bissey 
whom Bro. Stetzel mentions, and his testimony is perfectly reliable. 
The said report is as follows: 

“Tt was in the year 1840, before we had a written Church history, that 
I had a conversation concerning Church matters with Bro. Charles Bissey 
— who was one of the first-fruits of Albright’s labors — in his house near 
Quakertown, Bucks County, Pa., when he related to me many things con- 
cerning Albright’s preaching on repentance and conversion, and how fiercely 
he was persecuted. Upon my question whether he had been present at the 
council-meeting (Rathsversammlung) held in 1803? he answered: ‘Yes— 
but I was present already when there were only five of us.’ He then related 
that five brethren had once met and conversed on the work of God and the 
opposition against it, and how they resolved to unite themselves very close- 
ly. He further said: ‘Upon this we went to prayer, and while we prayed 
divine power came upon us so extraordinarily that we all became permeated 
by it.’ Who and where these five brethren were was not ascertained by me, 
but it is certain that it was not the council in 1803, for there was a larger 
number present then, nor did Bro. Bissey mean the formation of the three 
classes in 1800. It is probable that the five brethren were J AcoB ALBRIGHT, 
CHARLES BissEY, SAMUEL LigssER, PETER WALTER, and ABRAHAM BUCK- 
WALTER. This meeting and formation of a union took place about 1797-98, 
This event was regarded by Father Bissey as a very important one, for he 
related it afterward again when I visited him, and placed much stress upon 
the fact that they became so intimately united after the divine influence had 
come upon them so mightily and they resolved so intensely to go forward 
in the work. This is also a proof that the necessity of a close inward union 
for the prosecution of the work of God was realized quite early and that 


52 AILS POLY NIP hae ae [1800. 


this spiritual union was the inner beginning of the Evangelical Association.” 
And upon this God has impressed the seal of His approval from that private 
meeting on until this day. 


§ 50. Formation of the First Three Classes. 


The “little flock” of converts who recognized Rey. Jacob Albright as _ 
their spiritual father and were lovingly attached to him were scattered far 
around. These babes in Christ, especially in the counties of Berks, Bucks, 
and Northampton, were persecuted and found no likeminded brethren in 
Christ with whom they could have worshipped the Lord to edification. 
Instead of this Mr. Albright and his adherents were shamefully cast out 
and persecuted. But as Albright had as yet no co-laborers or helpers and 
himself could rarely re-visit his spiritual children, they were almost situated 
like sheep without a shepherd. These cireumstances convinced him more 
and more that in this wise much of the fruit of his labor must be lost if 
he did not organize these awakened and converted souls into congregations 
and introduce Christian discipline among them. For this reason he ven- 
tured upon this step in the year 1800. But because of the fact that his 
adherents were much scattered he could not at once unite them all in this 
manner. However, in Berks County, near the Colebrookdale iron works 
(“at Liesser’s’’) several persons lived together close enough to be united 
into a “class,” which was then called Liesser’s class, another was formed 
near Quakertown, Bucks County, and called Walter’s class, and a third one 
in Northampton County, called Philip’s class. For each class a leader was 
appointed, called class leader, whose duty it was to see that every thing was 
done in these small churches in accordance with the Word of God, and 
regularly to hold prayer-meetings with the class. 

This, then, was the beginning of the outward organization of the 
Evangelical Association, although this name had not then been adopted. 
Yea, there was no name yet given to this movement. The first care was for the 
main thing: the conversion, santification and consequent true happiness of 
men, and the matters of form were left to be shaped by the pressure of cir- 
cumstances and Divine Providence. A “little grain of mustard seed” had 
been planted; and lo! it begun to germinate and spring up. It was indeed 
as yet the “smallest of all grain,” but there was divine life in it.* 

“ This step,’ says Rev. Wm. W. Orwig, “to found a new ecclesiastical 
organization was disapproved by almost every one who heard of it, even by 
better disposed professors of religion; some regarded it as an act of great 





*) At the session of General Conference at Buffalo, New York, in i863, the vener- 
able Father John Dreisbach, in an address to the conference said: “The Evangelical 
Association may aptly be compared to a grain of mustard seed. How small it is, and 
yet it grows up to be a large tree; and thus small was the beginning of our Associa- 
tion, and now it has grown up to be a stately tree under which we dwell and rejoice in 
our security.’’ (Compare also Matth. 13, 31. 32.) 


1800. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 53 


weakness, while others looked upon it as being arrogance and nonsense. 
Many predicted its failure, and looked confidently for its downfall, which, 
as a matter of course, did not fail to intensify the persecution and con- 
tempt of the little band. But the Lord stood by them and their number 
increased, although quite slowly at first.” * 

Concerning this formation of the first classes, Albright himself speaks 
as follows : “‘ Having preached about four years, and having made special 
efforts to preach the Gospel where vital godliness and Christian discipline 
were unknown, I endeavored through the grace of God, which was given 
me, to give to the awakened and converted persons such instructions as they 
needed, in order to work out their souls’ salvation, and edify each other in 
the bonds of Christian fellowship, and in the unity of faith, in accordance 
with the teachings of Christ and his apostles, God granted His blessing upon 
this undertaking. Many who had previously lived in darkness and ignor- 
ance, received the light of life through the instrumentality of this union; 
and God, my helper and protector, also strengthened my own heart and 
mind by His grace, that I was not only enabled to preach pure doctrine to 
those whom He had entrusted to me, but also to establish them by my own 
example.” + 

The number of members enrolled was at this time only twenty, but if 
all those scattered over a vast territory could have been united into classes 
the number would have been much larger— probably several hundreds. 


§ 51. The Lord Provides—John Walter, the First Co-laborer. 


God never forsakes his own. To Joshua hesaid: “I will not fail thee 
nor forsake thee” —“Only be thou strong and very courageous.” (Josh. 1,5. 7.) 
The Lord also took care of Albright and his little flock, and from this small 
number came forth a mighty co-laborer, 

JoHN WALTER, born August 12th, 1781, near Quakertown, Pa., of very 
poor parents, was awakened and converted through Albright’s visits and 
labors in his father’s house and at Charles Bissey’s. The exact time and 
the particular circumstances of his conversion are not known, but it took 
place before the year 1800, when he was a young man about 19 years old. 

He conceived such an attachment to his spiritual father, that he 
regarded it as a great privilege, to go with him to Lancaster County and 
learn the brick and tile business, in order to carry it on for Mr. Albright 
whilst the latter was absent on his missionary tours. But it soon became 
evident that “another spirit was in him,” and he soon went with Albright 
on his travels and became an excellent exhorter. This took place in 1801. 
During the following year he commenced to preach, and in such manner as 
to cause general wonder and admiration. 

_ Here was a young man without any education whatever, who was at 


*) Orwig‘s History of the Evangelical Association, p. 21. 
{) Albright and his Co-laborers, pp. 78, 79. 


54 HISTORY OF THE [1802. 


the beginning necessitated to first spe// the text and hymns he wanted to 
use in his services, in order to be able to read them to his audiences, and 
yet he soon became one of the greatest preachers in his time, acknowledged 
as such not only by the little flock which adhered to Albright, but also by 
scholars and professors belonging to other denominations, who heard him 
preach.* ) 

Of him Rev. William W. Orwig writes as follows: ‘“ He preached with 
uncommon energy, and could truly be called a ‘son of thunder.’ Some that 
heard him preach, thought they had never heard the like before. Whenhe 
was—to use a popular expression—in the right mood to preach, it 
seemed as if the keys of the understanding of the Holy Scriptures had been 
given him, whose divine doctrines came like heavy showers upon his aud- 
ience, and sometimes carried them away as with a torrent. He sometimes 
preached on great and deep texts, to the great astonishment of his hearers, 
He was, at the same time an active, faithful, and humble instrument in the 
service of his Master, and his labors were abundantly blessed to the salva- 
tion of many souls.” We shall have frequent occasion further on to refer 
favorably to this servant of God. 


§ 52. The First “ Big Meetings.” 


Such a meeting was usually commenced Saturday afternoon and con- 
tinued until Sunday evening. In later years the Quarterly Meetings grew 
out of them. These so-called “big” meetings became in the early years of 
the Association an important institution and contributed not a little to the 
promotion of the work. 

On the day of Pentecost, in the year 1802, the first big meeting was 
held by Mr, Albright at Samuel Liesser’s, jr. It was richly blessed to the 
awakening of sinners and the edification of believers. In the latter part of 
the Summer [1802] he held the second meeting of this kind at the house 
of John Thomas, in Mifflin County, Pa., under some stately cherry trees. 
About one thousand persons gathered from far and near. On Sunday 
morning Albright preached on John 8, 12: “I am the light of the world, 





*) Rev. J. G. Schmucker, D. D., a highly respected theologian in the Lutheran 
Church, heard Walter preach several times. After having heard him the first time he 
said: ‘‘What a pity it is that Walter did not receive a good classical education, and 
thereby improve his talents; he would have become the greatest preacher in the 
country,’ But most likely Walter would not have become such a powerful preacher, * 
if he had first passed through one of the theological schools of that time. When Dr. 
Schmucker had heard him a second time, he remarked: “ Walter is a deeply learned 
(tiefgelehrter) man, and an orator who has scarcely been excelled. Oh, he speaks with 
supernatural power! God in his providence has done a great deal for him.” Many 
similar testimonies by Bishop John Seybert, Adam Ettinger, Henry Niebel and others, 
could be added, but we refer the reader for further information to “ Glimpses of the Life 
and Ladors of Rev. John Walter” in “ Albright and his Co-laborers,” 


+) Orwig’s History etc., pp. 21, 22. 


1803. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIA TION, 55 


he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of 
life.” A summary of the sermon has been furnished by an attentive auditor 
as follows: ‘He described Christ as the Sun of Righteousness ‘ which 
lighteth every man that cometh into the world.’ Asin Spring time the 
Sun ascends higher and his beams exert a powerful influence upon the earth, 
so that the ice melts, the frozen earth becomes thawed and warmed, the 
vegetation revives and thus causes Spring, Summer and harvest, so Christ 
operates spiritually upon every heart that yields itself to Him. The rays 
of this Sun are the truths of God’s Word, accompanied by the operations 
of the Holy Spirit.” 

He also pointed out how this light, throgh the preached Gospel, pene- 
trates into spiritually dark neighborhoods, and how darkness rises up against 
it, just as it is said that natural darkness is greatest before the break of day 
» — but that this light penetrates and enlightens men, and whosever follows 
after the light shall not walk in darkness, that is: not live in sin and doubt, 
but shall have the light of life, and the witness of the Holy Spirit that he 
is a child of God.* 

This sermon was very clear and powerful, and made a deep impression 
upon the congregation. Most of those present were so much affected by 
it that they shed tear sand became deeply convicted of the truth. During 
the delivery of the sermon Albright was so filled with power from on high, 
that it seemed as though a halo of glory encircled his countenance, 
and his otherwise impressive person appeared especially graceful. Thus 
his very appearance exerted a great influence upon the people, for they “saw 
his face as it had been the face of an angel.” (Acts6,15.) But Satan, too, 
had his minions present, who on the outskirts of the congregation sought to 
cause disturbance. One of them even said, “If I only had powder that 
would make no report, 1 would soon shoot that Albright down !” 


§ 53. Slow and Difficult Progress—Another Co-laborer. 


The year 1803 became a very important one for the small Association. 
The number of regular members had increased to forty, and another young 
man, named ABRAHAM LikEssER, who was also one of Albright’s first-fruits, 
made his first efforts at preaching. Thus the Lord had given his servant 
already two assistants, who were very promising, although as yet inexperi- 
enced, 

The reason for the slow progress in these first years was chiefly the fear- 
ful depravity of the people, who had sunk with respect to religion to the 
lowest degree, whilst ungodiiness and crimes prevailed. The insignificant 
instruments whom God had chosen were despised and overwhelmed with 
scorn and mockings, and were often fiercely threatened and persecuted. It 
is really remarkable that the work was not crushed and destroyed in its 





*) Albright and his Co-laborers, pp. 82, 83. 
t) Reported by Father Wonder, who was present on that occasion. 


56 HISTORY OF THE yee GRESO! 


very beginning. If it had not been of God it would have gone under, but 
instead of this it progressed continually in spite of all opposition. How- 
ever only truly converted persons joined the Church; the fires of persecu- 
tion consumed all “ wood, hay and stubble.” 


§ 54. A Very Important Council. 

As there had been as yet no church government established, no 
articles of faith adopted and no discipline introduced, the Association began 
to realize the need of some appropriate arrangement for the better manage- 
ment and promotion of the work. For this purpose a council was called to 
meet on November 3rd, 1803.* 

Besides ALBRIGHT and his two assistants JoHN WALTER and ABRA- 
HAM LikEssER, the following fourteen brethren and leading members were 
present: Jacosp Puiiures, Grorae MILLER, CHARLES BissEY, CONRAD 
Puitiirs, JouN Brozsst, Sotomon W. FripErici, CHRISTIAN Brosst, 
GrorGE Puitiies, MicHAEL Brogpst, SAMUEL LIEsSER, PETER Vales, 
ADAM MILLER, JAcoB Rigepy, and SoLomMon MILLER. 

These men who recognized Mr. Albright as their spiritul father, to 
whom they were indebted, under God, for their awakening and conversion, 
now declared, in the name of the entire society that they considered 
Albright a Genuine Evangelical Preacher and acknowledged him as their 
teacher and as such they solemnly consecrated him.—Upon this the council 
declared the Holy Scriptures of both the Old and New Testaments as 
their Rule of Faith and Practice, and presented to Albright a written 
certificate, in accordance with their declaration concerning him, signed by 
all present. : 

This written recognition reads in the original (translated), as follows: 
‘We, the undersigned, as Evangelical and Christian friends, declare J acoB 
ALBRIGHT as a truly Evangelical minister in every sense of the word and 
deed, and a professor (Bekenner) in the universal Christian Church and the 
communion of saints. To this we testify as Brethren and Elders of his 
society. Given in the state of Pennsylvania, on the 5th day of November, 
1808.” | 

This document was signed by John Walter, Abraham Liesser, and the 
fourteen leading men above mentioned, 

When these signers designate themselves in this important document 
as “ Hiders” of the association, it cannot be understood in a disciplinary 
sense as their having been ordained as ministerial elders, but as being the 
oldest and chief members of the society. 





*) The place where this Council met is not mentioned in the original documents, 
they say only: ‘Given in the state of Pennsylvania, November 5th, 1803.’’ It was 
not held at Muehlbach (Kleinfeltersville), as has been asserted in recent times. In 
1803 the Evangelical preachers had found no entrance as yet at Muehlbach, and 
there were no members there. John Dreisbach expressed the opinion that this ‘Coun. 
cil-meeting”’ was held at Liesser’s in Berks County. 


PSUS. [uy os! EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 57 


“This is an important and valuable document. It is an honorable testi- 
mony by a number of men who were not inferior in honesty and truthful- 
ness to their contemporaries, testifying as to the good character and con- 
duct of Jacob Albright. The acknowledgment of Albright as a preacher 
was based upon the fact that he was a professor* in the universal Christian 
Church, and hence belonged to the ‘communion of saints.’ And how could 
a person be a true Evangelical minister who was not from the very start 
united with Christ in the spiritual priesthood, even though he possessed 
all external forms and titles ? ” t 


§ 55. The Consecration of Albright. 


This ordination was directly performed by Rev’s. John Walter and 
Abraham Liesser, who laid their hands on Albright, as the original record 
shows ; and whilst this was being done they and the fourteen brethren 
afore-mentioned, joined together in solemn prayerto God. Thus was Jacob 
Albright consecrated as an Evangelical Preacher and “ Elder,” as the report 
states it.t This, then, was the origin and beginning, and first formal per. 
formance of ministerial ordination in the Evangelical Association. 


§ 56. A Parallel Case. 


A very similar ordination took place at Antioch, in Syria, in the year 
A. D. 43, as related by Luke in Acts 13, 1-3. There we read: “Now 
there were in the Church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers, 
as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, 
and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the Tetrarch, and Saul. 
As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Ghost said : Separate 
me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And 
when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent 
them away. 2 

Now this ordination through laying on of hands, accompanied with 
fasting and prayer, was netther ordered nor performed by the Apostles,—the 
order came from the Holy Spirit, who directed these prophets and teachers 
to separate Barnabas and Saul for their work. We have no information 
whatever that any of these men had been ordained or that any of them stood 
higher than Barnabas and Saul, who were certainly yet unordained. All 
five were good men and laborer’s in the Lord’s work, but as regards ordina- 
tion, or lack of ordination, they evidently all stood on an equal footing—just 
as Albright, Walter and Liesser stood. At all events, this was the first or- 
dination to the office of Apostle, of which the New Testament furnishes any 
information. With regard to principle and some details the ordination of 
Jacob Albright is a parallel to that related by Luke. 


*) Bekenner means probably in this connection also a member. 

t) Albright and his Co-laborers, pp. 89, 90. 

t) Original Conference Record. 

2) According to Mr. Peloubet this took place in the fall of the year A. D. 43. 


58 HISTORY OF THE [1803. 


The word of God nowhere intimates that Christ ever ordained his 
apostles by laying on of hands. He commissioned them by word of mouth 
(Matthew 28, 18-20) and sent upon them the Holy Spirit as a preparation 
and equipment. 

Neither have we any report that the apostles formally ordained any 
one to the office of the Gospel ministry. They did ordain “ seven deacons” 
for the superintendency of the “tables,” so that the apostles might 
apply themselves to “ prayer, and the ministry of the word,” (Acts 6, 1-6.) 

It is certain that Paul was never ordained by an apostle. Those who or- 
iained him to the apostolate were Simon, called Niger,* Lucius, of Cyrene, 
and Manaen, who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch. These 
men are designated as “ prophets and teachers,” the former of whom are 
placed by Paul one degree below the apostles and the latter four degrees be- 
low! (Kphesians 4.11.) Please reflect !— We do by no means disparage 
ordination to the office of the ministry by prayer and imposition of hands, 
but we do emphatically deny the so-called “ apostolic succession, ” — See 
about this further on. 


§ 57. A Most Important Subject. 

This matter of ordination is for the Evangelical Association a far- 
reaching and important one, which here demands a thorough consideration. 
It has been asserted —and the assertion is still being repeated in some 
circles — that the Evangelical Association is no Church, that she is not 
even a branch of the General Christian Church, that she has no connection 
whatever with the “ Historical Church” of Christ—whatever that may mean 
— that her ministerial ordination is not derived from the apostles, and that 
hence she was not in the line of the so-called “ apostolical succession,” that 
she had not even as much claim to being a Church as the Methodist 
Churches which received their ordination through John Wesley, John Flet- 
cher and others, from the ordained clergymen of the Anglican or Established 
Church of England, and transmitted the apostolic ordination to the Method- 
ist Church ; — or the United Brethren in Christ, who received their ordina- 
tion through Ph. William Otterbein, who was an ordained minister of the 
German Reformed Church. It has been asserted too -——in the Congrega- 
tional sense—that only a local Church possesses the functions of the Church 
and the power to ordain, and that therefore the organization or denomina- 
tion known as the Evangelical Association is no Church in the sense of the 
New Testament and could only be recognized as a Church in the sense of 
custom and convenience, 


*) Commentators generally agree that this appellation ‘‘Niger’’ means a black man 
—an African! There were many such in the primitive Christian Church. Just to 
think of it—if an wnordained African had joined in the laying on of hands on Mr. 
Albright, what a horror would have seized upon some supercilious “high Church” 
people! Lucius of Cyrene was also from Africa, but, probably, not as black as Sim- 
on, hence the distinction ‘“ Niger” given to the latter. 


1803.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 59 


But if the Evangelical Association is no Church and not a branch of 
the Christian Church, then she is a “ sect” in the bad sense of the word and 
has no right to exist. In this case her ministry would be ecclesiastically 
incompetent, her ordination null and void, and the transactions of her 
ministry acts of usurpation of the sacred prerogatives of the Christian 
Church. 

If on the other hand the Evangelical Association is a Church only by 
custom and convenience then her ministry is a sham, for the Gospel min- 
nistry must have a better sanction than custom and convenience. At the 
most she might in that case exist and operate as a missionary society, but 
ecclesiastical functions, such as the ministry of the Gospel, administration 
of the sacraments, etc., must be denied her. 


§ 58. Several Arguments of the Opponents. 


As in the view of most ecclesiastics a rightful ordination conditions 
a rightful existence of the Church — the two involving each other — it is 
in place here to consider a few of the arguments of the opponents of the 
ecclesiastical rights of the Evangelical Association. 

Perhaps no one among them has used his pen more energetically and 
extensively than Rev. Joun W. Nevin, D. D., whilst he was professor in the 
Theological Seminary of the German Reformed Church at Mercersburg, Pa.* 

Induced by a certain circumstance the Mercersburg classis of the Ger. 
man Reformed Church undertook in the year 1849 to decide the question 
whether the ordination of the ministry of the Evangelical Association was 
valid, and hence, whether said Association belonged to the Christian Church ! 

The discussion of this subject was quite extensive and animated. The 
result was that the classis declared almost unanimously — only four votes 
remaining neutral — that the Evangelical Association does not belong to 
the Christian Church and hence her ministerial ordination is void ! 

Upon this decision they proceeded to re-ordain a minister who had 
been an ordained preacher in the Evangelical Association, and it was claimed 
that during these transactions the blessed influence of the Holy Spirit was 
especially realized !! 

This decision of that prominent classis, which was brought about under 
the direction of the leaders of that Church and which has never been dis- 
approved or revoked, commits to a great extent this Reformed Church to 
the doctrine of the “ apostolica]l succession” and the un-Churching of all 
denominations who are not recognized as standing in that line! Done at 
Greencastle, Pa., A. D. 1849. 

In his enthusiastic report of this transaction Dr. Nevin says, among 


*) Dr. Nevin was otherwise a pious and learned man, who, according to reliable 
testimonies, lived and died in the Lord; but by his studies of the ancient Church-fathers 
and Church history he imbibed high-churchly ideas, by which he also caused much 
friction in his own church, 5 


60 HISTORY NOL anes [1803., 


other things: ‘Concerning the correctness of this decision there ought to 
be no doubt. There could be cases in which it might be difficult to solve 
the question of Church-character so practically, but no such difficulty pre- 
sents itself in this case, unless we abandon all faith in the divine constitu- 
tion of the Church in any respect and thus dismiss the question as being 
of no value or importance whatever. If the Church has any outward author- 
ity or force as an object of faith or confidence, and if schism in the primitive 
Church sense is in any way conceivable, than it must be clear that self- 
constituted and self-rising bodies like the Albright brethren, etc., have no 
right nor part in this heavenly corporation.”” Upon this Mr. Nevin quotes | 
the history of the origin of the Ev. Association as given in Rupp’s “History 
of all Denominations”, and then continues, ‘‘How is it possible to recognize 
such a body which established itself in this century in a corner of Penny]l- 
vania, as belonging to the Holy General Church, that mystic and universal 
communion of the apostolic creed, which originated eighteen centuries ago 
in Christ, and of which we are told that the gates of hell shall not prevail 
against it?—If Jacob Albright had a right to found a Church in this manner, 
then every pious Tom, Dick and Harry possesses the same right to consti- 
tute himself the author and fountain of a new ministry, provided he can 
find a few simple-minded disciples who would submit to his ghostly author- 
ity and who would lay their hands on him, in order to confirm his commis- 
sion. Thus even every Christian family might finally raise itself to the dig- 
nity of a Christian denomination, and administer the sacraments in accord- 
ance with their own opinion, It is worse than naught in any such cases 
to make any pretense of faith in the Church as a divine historical institu- 
tion.” . 

He then continues to discuss the necessity that in the time of the ref- 
ormation, new denominations arose, such as the Lutheran Reformed and 
other Churches, which he fully justifies because at that time there occurred 
extraordinary events which greatly disturbed the historic channel of the 
Church—and then continues: “Let her (the Ev. Association) show to us 
the necessity of her appearance in the organic life of the Church as an or- 
ganic whole. 

“What a caricature of such a conception is presented to us in the inde- 
pendent, free rise of the Evangelical Association—the self-unchurching 
brotherhood of Jacob Albright. Was it the force of the universal life of 
organic Christianity which gave life to this mushroom? That would in- 
deed be the labor of a mountain to bring forth a mouse.—Has the problem 
of centuries and ages, which had burdened the heart of the Church for so 
long a time, found its sublime solution at last in this insignificant, ghostly 
appearance—in the mission of such a man and the creation of such a sect ? 
The very thought itself is an absurdity. The thing arose in a corner, it 
had no historical necessity. No one can say whence it came, and it passes 
rapidly on, no one can tell whither. There is no room left fora comparison 


1803. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 61 


with the reformation, and hence not the least cause to fear that this great 
interest would be endangered if in this clear case the whole truth is ex- 
pressed and done. 

“Luther was the organ of the Church. Jacob Albright was the subject 
of private imagination and hallucination. No deep, general force—the ac- 
cumulated world-sense of ages, came to its irresistible and necessary 
crisis in his person. He had no call to organize a new denomination. His 
sect is not a product of the Church, but a schismatic denial of its objective 
historical necessity from beginning to end.”* 

In his further treatment of this matter Dr. Nevin also endeavors to 
show that they,as the Reformed Church, owed this fearless testimony to 
the “Albright Brethren” and others, in order to convince these erring ones 
of the error of their ways, and convert them !—But oh, thou diminutive 
Hvangelical Association—how dost thou, as an illegitimate dwarf, appear in 
this mirror ! | 


§ 59. Short-sighted Scholars. 


To this good man Nevin—as well as to some others of his sort in 
America and Kurope—happened this misfortune, that in his zealous studies 
of the apostlical and Church fathers and patrology in general, and also the 
history of the reformation and the reformatory Churches, he neglected to 
study thoroughly and judge correctly the more recent and the present con- 
ditions of the Church. In other words, whilst he looked many centuries 
back, and searched the antiquities of the Church he largely overlooked the 
present, and the result was that, that which lay right before his eyes, partic- 
ularily with regard to the Evangelical Association, remained almost un- 
known to him. What little he knew about our Church he evidently 
learned from the incomplete and defective reports of Rupp’s and Wine- 
brenner’s “ History of all Denominations,” and from unfriendly hearsay. 
And he evidently used his “ High-Church Spectacles’? when he looked 
at Jacob Albright, who then, of course, appeared exceedingly small in his 
sight. . | 

Had Mr. Nevin been considerate enough to procure and read the small 
biography of Jacob Albright, compiled by his co-laborer, Rev. George 
Miller, which was easily obtainable in that time, he would have obtained 
quite a different and a correct view of the heart, motives and sentiments 
of Albright. Had he studied more thoroughly the letters of Pastors 
Muehlenberg, Handschuh, Kuntze, and others in “Halle’sche Nachrichten,” 
and other works of the kind, and last, but not least, had he remembered 
his own description of the exceedingly lamentable religious state of his own 


*) Mercersburg Review, July 1849, pp. 381-386. 

Note.—The above is a re-translation from the German. The English original 
not being now accessible. The translator, who made both translations, affirms that 
the sense has been preserved throughout. 


§2 HISTORY OF THE [1803. 


denomination in Albright’s time, as published in his lectures on the Heidel- 
berg Catechism in 1842 (which is abundantly confirmed by Rev. Mr. 
Schlatter’s letter,* he would have acquired a correct knowledge of the 
indispensable necessity of a thorough reformation with reference to re- 
pentance, conversion and a godly life among the German Churches of 
Pennsylvania—his own Church included. 

Into what a deplorable veneered heathenism the neglected Germans 
had fallen; how God awakened Albright and caused him to feel the Paul- 
ine “woe is me if I preach not the Gospel,’ until the Lord by chastisement 
almost compelled him to go whithersoever he sent him—the esteemed 
reader has already seen on the foregoing pages of this book. 


§ 60. The Outward Connection of the Evangelical Association with the 
General Christian Church. 

It will be in place here to show the connection of the Evangelical 
Association with the Christian Church and withal with the Churches of the 
Reformation : — 

1. The founder of this denomination was born in the Evangelical 
Lutheran Church, was baptized in his infancy by a Lutheran Pastor ; after- 
wards he received catechetical instruction in the Lutheran Catechism, was 
confirmed by a Lutheran pastor, and admitted to the sacrament of the 
Lord’s Supper. After he had, as a member of the Lutheran Church, lived 
in sin for a number of years, as was the case with the majority in those 
times, the Spirit of God awakened the truths he had learned in the cate- 
chism. : 
Of this he speaks himself as follows: ‘God extended his hand to me 
also in other ways, I had received instructions in early youth in the Chris- 
tian religion. Then I could not comprehend, and did not experimentally 
realize the truth, still from that time there remained in me a reverence for 
God, though dim, yet it extended so far, that every place where God was 
worshipped became sacred to me, no matter in what way it was done. 
Reverence often prompted me to visit religious meetings and attentively 
listen to the teachings of the ministers.” + 

2. When he was already troubled about the condition of his soul, but 
was not yet willing to submit to God, sickness invaded his family and sev- 
eral of his children died with dysentery. Rev. ANTon Havtz, a German 
Reformed minister, who was a mighty herald of repentance, preached the 
funeral sermons, which touched him deeply. ‘The word of God found way 
to his heart, which was already contrite, so that he was deeply impressed 
and became willing to seek the Lord immediately.” 

After his conversion he was expelled from the Lutheran Church be- 





*) See pp. 20, 21. 
+) Albright and his Co-laborers, pp. 24, 25. 
t) See p. 23. 


1803. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 63 


cause this work of conversion was denounced as fanaticism, yet he never 
disparaged the Churches of the Reformation. He deplored their moral 
deterioration in his part of the country, but wherever he discovered any- 
thing good he willingly acknowledged it. 

3. The articles of faith of the Evangelical Association are taken from 
the thirty-nine articles of the Anglican Church, which latter are an abstract 
of the so-called “ Augsburg Confession of Faith,’ and'in many places 
agree verbally with them. That Confession is the palladium of Protes- 
tantism. 

4, The hymn-books of the Evangelical Association contain the cream 
of the hymns of the Churches of the Reformation. In the beginning of 
this work the hymnbooks of the Lutheran and Reformed Churches were in 
use exclusively. 

5. The “ Apostolic Creed,” which is the confession of faith of the 
General Christian Church, is also the confession of the Evangelical Associa- 
tion. It is incorporated into the formula for baptism, and every candidate 
for baptism is baptized upon this professed faith. It is also contained in 
the Evangelical Catechism, and is being taught and impressed upon the 
memories and minds of the rising generation. 

Of these important and far-reaching points the learned Dr. Nevin 
evidently had not informed himself when he read the Evangelical Associa- 
tion out of the Christian Church. Instead of acquainting himself properly 
with that solid, modest, intelligent and soundly converted man of God, 
Jacob Albright, whom God called and thrust forward to show to his erring 
German brethren the way of salvation by repentance toward God, and 
faith in Christ,—he drew up a caricature and called it “Jacob Albright,” of 
which he says at a certain place: “Albright had taken it into his head to 
make himself a name by founding a new denomination, acting like a self- 
conceited foolish youth, who would take hold of his pantaloons, in order to 
lift himself up.” Similar stuff is still sometimes produced in our day, even 
by high-titled gentlemen who make a show of learning, but do not know 
the alphabet of the origin of the Evangelical Association. In course of 
time light may yet arise and shine upon them concerning this matter. 

That the Evangelical Association stands connected in many ways with 
the Christian Church and the Church of the Reformation, cannot be gain- 
said, but that she has no part in theso-called “ apostolic succession,” is by 
her cheerfully admitted. 


§61. The So-called * Apostolic Succession.” 


What then are we to understand by the pretentious phrase “Apostolic 
Succession?” Substantially expressed, it is the claim that the authority 
with which Christ is said to have invested the Apostles to preach the Gos- 
pel, to administer the sacraments, and to govern the Church, was by them 
transmitted, by laying on of hands and prayer, to such other persons as 


64 HISTORY OF THE [1803. 


they considered fit, and thereby ordained them as their successors ; further- 
more, that this ordination was continued from the time of Peter and Paul, 
specifically, through an unbroken line of the bishops of Rome, until the 
present time ; only such preachers of the Gospel as stand in this Apostolic 
line of ordination had the claim to the promise of the Lord that he would 
be with them always, sanction their official acts, and hence their authority 
alone was to be recognized by this Church. Only such preachers constitute, 
according to this conception, a valid ministry, and they are the very bearers 
and pillars of the Church; hence it follows that only such Churches as 
have such a ministry belong to the true General Christian Church.* 

That the ministry of the Evangelical Association does not stand in this 
dine is historically correct. But where stand the ministries of other Protes+ 
tant denominations in this respect, the Churches of the Reformation in- 
cluded ? Any student of Church history knows that, for instance, the as- 
sertion of Dr. Hook is a fiction, when he says: “Our ordinations (those of 
the Church of England) descend in a direct unbroken line from Peter and 
Paul, the apostles of the circumcision and the Gentiles. These great 
apostles successively ordained Linus, Cletus and Clement, bishops of 
Rome ; and the Apostolic succession was regularly continued from them to 
Celestine, Gregory, Vetalianus,” etc.t 

There is no shadow of proof extant that the apostle Peter ever 
‘was in Rome and there ordained any one. It is certain that the apostle 
Paul was there, but where is any intimation to be found that he ordained 
any one as his successor? Church history confesses its uncertainty con- 
cerning Linus and Cletus. ° 

The “Chain” lacks the sure connection at the very beginning. But 
let the connection for a moment be admitted, and that this ordination was 
continued through many centuries until the time of the Reformation by the 
unclean hands of the popes, and thus was also validly imparted to all of the 
bishops, priests and clergymen of the Roman papal Church, and hence also 
to those who afterwards took part in the Reformation. Then we come sud- 
denly to a tremendous chasm which cannot be bridged over. The Roman 
Bishop—the Pope— by whose authority this “ Apostolic Succession ” was 
transmitted to such bishops and priests as Luther, Zwingli, Calvin, Cran- 
mer and and many others, in Germany, Switzerland and England, excom- 
municated them afterwards, thus stripping them of their offices, dignity and 
authority, and not only put them back into the laity, but declared them to 
be heretics, expelled them and handed them over to the devil and eternal 
damnation, accompanied with terrible maledictions !_ This curse was pro- 
nounced upon all who took part in the reformation of the sixteenth cen- 
tury, and it has never been revoked to the present day. 


*) For full information on this subject see Powell on Succession. 
+t) Dr. Hook’s Two Sermons on the Church and the Establishment. 


1803. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 65 


Now it is perfectly certain that if the Pope could impart the “ Apos- 
tolic Succession,” he also had power to withdraw it. Why, he has the 
power to bind and to loosen, he has the “Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven,’ 
and can lock and unlock—it is asserted. And whosoever asserts the power 
of his authority concerning ordination must also acknowledge the effective- 
ness of his excommunication and curse. The one implies the other. Let 
any one who has the desire, attempt to build a bridge over this unbridg- 
able chasm. For Protestants who rely upon “ Apostolic Succession” it 
hardly amounts to a fable that has been cunningly devised, but it is botha 
fateful and a ridiculous one. 

We repeat that the Evangelical Association cheerfully acknowledges 
that her ministerial ordination does not stand in this line. In reality the 
ministry of the Evangelical Association stands upon equal footing with re- 
gard to this “succession” with other protestant denominations, with 
this single, clear exception that she was never specially excommuni- 
cated and thus stripped of her ordination by the Pope, as were some others. 
Even from a high Church standpoint, considering the last mentioned fact, 
the ministry of the Evangelical Association would seem to stand upon a 
far more solid ground than those “ Apostolic Successors” who have been 
excommunicated by the Roman Pontiff. 


§ 62. A Singular Attack. 


Another attack upon the Evangelical Association concerning ber right 
to be a Church was made, remarkably enough, in her own official Church 
organ, the Evangelical Messenger, in the year 1880. The editors of this 
paper tried to establish the assertion that the Evangelical Association 
is no Church in the sense of the New Testament (which is equal to being no 
Church at all), but only an Evangelical Society, as was clearly indicated 
by her name Evangelical Association, and that the Scriptures apply the name 
Church only to local congregations and also Christians in the aggregate, 
but that a denomination was never thus designated. The Messenger said 
literally : “Outside of the local Churches it is a misnomer to call any asso- 
ciation of Christians either a Church or the Church. The Church is the 
entire body of true believers, a Church is simply a local society ; and other 
‘organizations are simply associations. Among them we have been called 
the Evangelical Association. Could we better it, could we make it more 
Scriptural, more Evangelical, more truthful or more democratic by imitating 
the general error and also insisting upon calling ourselves a Church ?”* 

But when the Messenger was driven to the wall on this point, it ad- 
mitted that the Hvangelical Association might, like other denominations, 
also be called a Church, because the designation Church was customary and 
convenient. On this point it said the following: “The Evangelical Asso- 
ciation is a Church in the same sense as the Methodist, the Presbyterian, 


*) Evangelical Messenger, July 13th, 1880. 


66 HISTORY OF THE {1803. 


the Lutheran and the various Christian denominations are Churches, and in 
no other. And in thissense, and as a matter of custom and convenience, 
we use the term as freely as anybody else.””* 

Both of the above quoted paragraphs are perfect in themselves, that is 
to say, they are not torn out of their connections as to sense. In the first 
paragraph the Messenger declared expressly that the Evangelical Associa- 
tion and other denominational organizations are simply associations and 
not Scriptural Churches, and hence the designation Church is a misnomer, 
and we are admonished not to imitate the general error by insisting upon 
calling the Evangelical Association a Church; but in the second paragraph 
it is admitted that the editors themselves “imitate the general error,” because 
it is customary and convenient! Yet by admitting that we are a Church in 
the same sense that other denominations are, whom they had already de- 
clared to be “simply associations,” and not Churches, their assertion that 
the Evangelical Association was “simply an association and not a Church,” 
was left standing in full force, and thus our Church was stripped entirely 
of its ecclesiastical character by its own Church organ ! 

The considerate readers of the paper soon saw that the position, that 
a denomination was not a Church, because not so called in the New Testa- 
ment, was a perfect non-sequitur, because in the New Testament era the 
Church consisted mostly of missions and beginnings. 

There was as yet no development into denominations or aggregations 
of local Churches, although the apostle Paul already grouped them to- 
gether by countries, as for instance: “Churches of Galatia,” (1 Cor. 16, 1.), 
“Churches of Macedonia,” (2 Cor. 8, 1.) 

It was also seen that that which had as yet no existence, could not be 
mentioned historically in the Bible. . And, most of all, it was seen that when 
one local Christian society was already called a Church in the New Testa- 
ment, an aggregation of many local Churches into one denomination would 
certainly not do away with the Church character, but wnite and concentrate 
and thus strengthen it in the denomination. 

The new-fangled idea was seen to be indefensible, and finding no other 
advocates, it perished in a short time in consequence of its own hollow- 
ness ! f 


§ 63. The Validity of the Ministerial Ordination of the 
Evangelical Association. 


Is the ministerial ordination of this denomination actually valid? And 
is this association, not only by outward connection but also essentially, a 
part or branch of the General Christian Church ? 





*) Evangelical Messenger, Dec. 14th, 1880. 

T) This matter was inserted here, out of its chronological order, because of its 
nature it belongs here, in juxtaposition with the other attacks upon our ecclesias- 
tical status. 


1803. | EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 67 


These questions are life-questions for this Church, and demand here 
and now a correct and exhaustive answer. 

Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Head of the Church, is the Great 
Highpriest in whom the Church with all its rights and powers originates, 
He gives to every believer and withal to the aggregate of believers who are 
united with him and in him into his spiritual, mystical body, his life, which 
is eternal life, and therefrom results, under his operation and guidance, the 
outward development and formation of the Church. In this sense the 
apostle Paul writes to the Ephesians that Christ ascended on high and gave 
gifts to men, and designates part of these gifts as consisting in apostles, 
evangelists, pastors, teachers, etc, “for the edifying of the body of Christ, 
till we all come in the unity of faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of 
God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of 
Christ.” * But how utterly unbiblical and improper is the thought that 
Christ had in the beginning of the Christian Church emptied himself of the 
fullness of these gifts and deposited them, as it were, with this “Apostolic 
Succession,” so that these successors now possess the power to manage the 
arrangement of the ministry, and validate it by their ordination! No— 
Christ still possesses the same inexhaustible fullness of gifts and graces for 
the Church in all ages, and also communicates them to her as her manifold 
needs demand. 

As the Church has her beginning and development, field of labor, con- 
flicts, trials, and time of preparation in this world, in the midst of the 
kingdom of darkness, of hundreds of millions of fallen men, changes of 
times, nations and languages, and is outwardly subject to thousands of cir- 
cumstances, changing relations and their influences—it is frequently the 
case that she becomes spiritually diseased and luke-warm, and even apos- 
tasy and separation from the Lord take place, as both the word of proph- 
ecy and the history of the Church abundantly teach. For this reason the 
Great Head of the Church interferes by processes of separation, purification, 
renovation and restoration. And in case the evil has rooted and settled it- 
self so deeply and inveterately in the body and government of the Church 
that a separation and purification has become impossible, then the Lord 
will not hesitate, as biblical history teaches, even to employ a Nebuchadnez- 
zar ora Titus to destroy His chosen city of Jerusalem, and abolish that wor- 
ship which He Himself had instituted, because it has essentially been 
changed into a false, idolatrous performance, and rejects His chosen people, 
and calls them “Lo ammi” f because they have forsaken their God. Then 
He will select for His purposes other instruments, “raises children out of 
stones,’ { and uses other builders to erect His temple, and accomplishes 
nevertheless, his counsel, although, on account of the disobedience of men, 
so to speak, in roundabout ways, yet wonderfully and gloriously. 








*) Ephesians 4, 7 - 13. Tt) Hosea 1. 9. t) Luke 3. 8, 


68 HISTORY OF THE ~ [1803. 


Thus the Lord reigns and rules in the old and new dispensation. Such 
a crisis took place in the dark middle ages, when a bottomless depravity 
prevailed in the Church. Church government had morally become com- 
pletely rotten and incompetent, and a reformation of “head and members ” 
had become necessary. Then the Lord produced a new creation. He chose 
a poor miner’s son, MARTIN LuTHER, and others, and accomplished through 
them a reformation. This was afterward repeated on a smaller scale in 
the Churches of Germany and England, when God employed men like 
Spener, Francke, Zinzendorf and Arndt in Germany, and Wesley, Fletcher, 
Whitefield and others in Great Britain, in order to repress formality, dead 
orthodoxy, and sins and crimes in the Church, and cause the life of Christ 
to flow again in her channels. And we hesitate not to add here that the 
Lord awakened and employed His servant Albright to check the moral ruin- 
ation of the German Churches of Pennsylvania, and lead those people into 
the way of life, as we shall see further on in this history. 


§ 64. Further Elucidation of the Subject. 


We continue the amplification of the answer to the life-question of our 
Church, now under consideration, and direct the reader to the great truth 
that the aggregate of believers constitute, in virtue of their union with 
Christ the true High Priest, the ‘‘Koyal Priesthood.”* The believer is a 
partaker of Christ. Through Him, who is the Son of God, he possesses 
sonship ; through Him, who is King over all, he is also made a king; 
through Him, who is the victor, he is also victorious ; through Him, who is 
the glorified heir of all things, he will also become glorified, and be made a 
joint heir with Christ; and through Him, who is the Great High Priest, he 
has also been made a priest. Thus, the “ Royal Priesthood ” of believers is 
in its original form a participation in the priesthood of Christ, and stands 
above all other forms, successions and traditions, because it is grounded, in- 
dependently of all these, in the everlasting Highpriesthood, after the 
order of Melchisedec. 

If, then, in the course of time, the outward Church becomes so radi- 
cally depraved that she rejects true believers and live Christians, and thus 
the outward “successive” ordination of godly ministers becomes impos- 
sible, or other preventing circumstances prevail, but the continuation of a 
true Gospel ministry has become imperatively necessary, then this spiritual, 
royal priesthood has the undoubted right through Christ, and He, as the Head 
of the body and Lord over all, will guide them into that direction—to ordain 
and consecrate to the ministry of the Gospel, such persons as Providence 
and the Holy Spirit indicate, as was the case with Rev. Jacob Albright. 

And, after all, everything depends upon the sanction and blessing of © 
the divine-human Head and Lord of the Church. Did not the apostle 


*) 1 Peter 2. 9. 


1803.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION, 69 


Paul, in reply to those who denied his divine call and the validity of his 
office, invariably point to his spiritual children whom he, by divine grace, 
had led from Satan and sin to God, as the seals of his office? Does he not 
write to the Hebrews (2. 4.) that the divine certification to His true servants 
consists in the “gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his will”? Now, it 
is an undeniable fact that the glorious Lord Jesus Christ has greatly 
blessed the ministry of the Evangelical Association in the persons of 
Albright and hundreds of his successors in the ministry ; He has confirmed 
and sealed it by the conversion of tens of thousands of immortal souls. 
What further testimony could be needed? Or will any one undertake to 
show that the Lord committed a mistake in this matter ? 


In conclusion : — In the midst of thick moral darkness in the Church, 
Albright was awakened immediately by the Holy Spirit and mediately 
through the written Word and the preaching of it, and brought to the Lord. 
After having followed the Lord, in the Methodist Episcopal Church, a few 
years, the divine call came to him, clearly and unmistakably, to bring the 
Gospel to the neglected Germans in his vicinage. The Lutheran Church 
rejected him, the Methodist Church gave him a license as exhorter, but 
rejected the idea of entering upon the German field or establishing a German 
work. When the divine call led Albright into this great field, he thereby 
lost his membership in the Methodist Church, which at that time made 
membership dependent upon the regular attendance of the class-meeting. 
God bestowed His blessing upon his labors in the awakening and conversion 
of sinners, and these converts were tenderly attached to him as their 
spiritual father, but were mostly expelled from their own churches. 
Albright thus found himself under the necessity of becoming their pastor 
and spiritual leader, which induced him to organize them into a few classes. 
The leading men of this little flock soon perceived the necessity of a still 
more perfect organization, and furnished Albright also with an outward 
authority and certification as their pastor and preacher, but as under pre- 
vailing circumstances it was impossible to obtain an ordained preacher from 
any denomination to ordain Albright,* they ordained and consecrated him 
to this office themselves, with earnest prayer and laying on of hands, and 
God has added his blessing to that solemn act until this day. This was an 
act of the “Royal Priesthood,” under the guidance of Providence and the 
Holy Spirit. Jn this line stands the ministerial ordination of the Evangelical 
Association! Can it be necessary to present any further argument in its 
defense? Nay, verily not! And in consideration of all the aforementioned 
historical facts and fundamental truths, which condition the Church in its 


*) The authorities of the M. E. Church did not approve of his labors among the 
Germans, and the United Brethren had not yet introduced formal ordination among 
themselves. As late as October 2d, 1813, Rev. Otterbein performed the first ordination 
by prayer and laying hands upon the Brethren Newcomer, Hoffman and Schaffer. 
Life of Otterbein, pp. 356-360. | 


70 AISTORY OF THE [1803. 


origination, existence, and development, it will not be a difficult task for 
the candid reader to see that the Hvangelical Association is in all respects 
a real, essential branch of the Christian Church, 

We yet add here what Rev. William W. Orwig says on this subject: “If 
the presumption of the privilege of a regular succession in the ministry by 
ordination down from the apostles, were no fable, or if its existence and 
necessity could be proven from the Bible or the history of the Church, then 
the Evangelical Association would indeed have no valid claims to church- 
ship and the validity of her ministry. But in this respect she has nothing 
to fear, though there are some narrow-minded, bigoted sectarians, who envy 
her rapid progress and increasing influence, deny her the character of a 
Church and declare the ministrations of her preachers null and void. But 
if each branch of the Church Universal had to prove an apostolic, uninter- 
rupted and sacred succession, in order to confirm the validity of its exist- 
ence and ministry, then all would come under the same sweeping condem- 
nation of the above-mentioned arrogant sectarians, and they themselves 
would be compelled to lay their hands upon their mouths, and remain quiet 
forever. The good success which hitherto has attended the operations of 
the Evangelical Association is alone sufficient evidence that the ordination 
of her ministers is valid before God, notwithstanding all the objections that 
may be urged to the contrary.’”* 

But, generally speaking, successive ordination is to be highly respected 
as conducive to proper order and discipline in the Church. Any one who 
from motives of selfishness or recklessness disregards such order, and sets 
up a party for himself, is to be regarded and treated as a disturber and 
sectarian.t When, however, the Church has become so depraved and 
ungodly that she refuses to ordain men whom God has called, and even 
expels such, then the principle must prevail: “ Life is more than meat.” 
—(Matt. 6, 25.); viz., The true life of the Church and immortal souls is of 
more value than this ordination, which principle is also implied in this 
passage: ‘The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.” 
(Mark 2, 27.) The true life of the Church is infinitely more important 
than any of its forms or traditions, therefore, in cases of indispensable 
necessity, in order to save this life, we are not bound to a close observance 
of them. 

§ 65. A Sterile Soil and Little Fruit. 


During the years 1802-3 Albright labored mostly in the counties Berks, 
Bucks, and Northampton, but that section of country was at that time hard 
ground and the results were apparently meager. The servants of the Lord 
sowed the seed of the Word accompanied with many tears, but after many 
years a joyful harvest followed. 


*) Orwig’s History of the Evangelical Association, pp. 23, 24. 
1) See the XVIII. Article of Faith in Evangelical Discipline. 


1804. | EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 71 


Indeed the work seemed almost to die out, as was the case with the 
countries where Christianity was established at first. The people seemed 
to become more hardened and blinded in sin than they were before, which 
induced one of the preachers to make the remark: ‘‘/¢ seems as if the devil 
had here measured off a tract of ground for himself!’’ For a long time this 
region lay almost desolate, so far as the operations of the Evangelical 
Association were concerned, and when, subsequently, attempts were made 
to preach the pure doctrine of the Bible, the combined forces of hell and 
the ungodly nominal Christians and false teachers rose in vehement opposi- 
tion, so that the Evangelical preachers were frequently in danger of their 
lives. But in spite of all persecution and embarrassments the truth 
achieved, in later years, glorious victories, as we shall yet see. 


§ 66. Pressing in a Northwesterly Direction. — A New Circuit is Formed, 


The circumstances just mentioned induced Albright and his co-laborers 
to turn in a northwesterly direction. They found entrance and open 
doors in the counties of Northumberland and Center etc., and their labors 
were crowned with great success. They formed a new circuit in 1804, 
which was called Shamokin at first, but was afterward named Northumber- 
land, and was jointly served by Revds. John Walter and Abraham Liesser. 
Albright had previously visited these parts and scattered the good seed of 
the Word, attended with great blessing. His excellent and noble demeanor, 
in connection with his powerful preaching, made a blessed impression. His 
intercourse with the people was so loving and attractive that nearly every- 
body whose acquaintance he made became attached to him. The older 
members of the Church, who survived him many years, even in their old 
age spoke enthusiastically of his appearance and labors among them. 


§ 67. Albright and Spangler. 


Among these fathers we mention especially CHRISTOPHER SPANGLER, 
of Brush Valley, Center County, Pa. Concerning him we insert a few 
paragraphs from “Albright and his Co-laborers,” as follows: “ During the 
year 1805 Albright traveled through Center County, Pennsylvania, and 
stopped in the town of Millheim, with a Mr. Bachmann. Mr. Bachmann 
soon saw that there was another spirit in this man, different from that of 
their pastor. Bachmann gave him permission to preach in his house. In 
the interval a man by the name of Christopher Spangler, of Brush Valley, 
came to Bachmann’s house. He was told what kind of a man Mr. Albright 
was, Whereupon Spangler said: ‘Tell him to come and preach at my place 
also.’ When Albright came to Spangler’s house, which was not quite fin- 
ished, while taking off his overcoat he said: ‘Why you are building a 
fine house, but if you were to be converted things would become yet much 
finer among you.’ This was a sort of introductory address to Spangler. — 
The sermon made such an impression on Spangler, that he soon began to 


72 Pe KAW OOF GLU OS ON Bie OCS " £1805. 


seek the Lord and ere long found peace in the blood of Christ. Afterward 
a class was formed there, of which Spangler became the leader. Later he 
became a local preacher. Spangler was sorely persecuted, but he clung so 
firmly to Jesus and was also so strongly attached to Albright, that nothing 
moved him. Even in old age he spoke with special appreciation of Albright 
as his spiritual father.”* Many respectable people were converted in 
these parts of the country who became pillars in the Church. The follow- 
ing were among the first preaching places on the new circuit: Abraham 
Eyer, John Aurand, Michael Meesz, Dreisbach’s Church, Martin Dreisbach, 
sen., Philip Heu, Henry Schmidt, Jacob Hoch, John Schwarz, Carl Straub. 
Albright also obtained another assistant: Alexander Jameson, whom he 
brought to this circuit to help the other preachers. 


§ 68. Frequent Change of Preachers. 


The first preachers of the Evangelical’ Association did not always 
remain a whole year on a circuit, as was also the case with the first Metho- 
dist preachers that came to America. They were often changed during the 
year by the order of Albright, probably that they might the sooner become 
acquainted with the whole work and the people become acquainted with 
them. The circumstances and demands of the work and times were so 
peculiar and different from the present that we can hardly form an adequate 
idea of them, 

On the “old circuit,” east of the Susquehanna river, the number in- 
creased slowly, but persecution became fiercer. It was greatly to their 
advantage that the newly-added members were soundly converted, cleaving 
to the Lord with all their heart. Half-hearted and hypocritical professors 
could not endure the heat of opposition ; only the gold could endure the 
fiery trial of persecution. 


§ 69. Small Salaries. 


For the first time [1805] we find any mention of the amount of the 
salary of preachers. The contributions were divided in equal shares and 
the portion of each preacher consisted of the remarkable sum of $15.30. 
From the report it appears that Albright received the same amount as the 
others. John Walter obtained permission to collect specially for the pur- 
chase of a horse. He gathered for this purpose $37.33.—On this point let 
it be observed : 

1. In those days the people were generally poor in money. The 
country recovered very slowly from the very depressing effects of the revo- 
lutionary war. 

2. The collection of contributions was not as yet regulated at all, 

3. The contributions averaged nevertheless $1.25 per member. 








*) Albright and his Co-laborers, p. 94. 


1805. | EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 73 


4, The horses of preachers were kept mostly free of expense, and the 
preachers themselves generally boarded free. 

&. Preachers lived very economically and clothed themselves plainly 
and inexpensively. 

6. Preachers were governed by such an intense earnestness for saving 
souls and the extension of the work of the Lord that they scarcely thought 
of matters of salary. This last fact should be laid to heart above all 
others. 


§ 70. More Rapid Progress. 


During the year 1805 there was better progress. Doors were opened 
in Lancaster and Dauphin Counties. Northumberland circuit was ex- 
tended into the Counties of Mitflin and Huntingdon. Theincrease of mem- 
bers was about 35, and the whole number was 75. Still quite a number of 
awakened persons did not yet join the society because of the fiery persecu- 
tion ; and in Lancaster County the sentiment that an organized and discip- 
lined Church was a “ yoke of bondage,” largely obtained among awakened 
and praying people. 

Albright and Walter received equal shares from the contributions this 
year. Walter again received permission to collect $18.67 for the purchase 
ofa horse. For Alexander Jameson $66.67 was raised (he seemed to have 
been especially poor), and permission given him to collect $69.33 for the 
purchase of a horse. It should be mentioned here that it required a good 
horse in those times to carry a preacher and his saddle-bags daily great 
distances over bad roads and in all kinds of weather. 


§ 71. Early Departure of Bro. Abraham Liesser. 


During this year that promising young preacher ABRAHAM LIESSER 
departed this life. He was a humble, pious and useful man. Why his 
early taking off ? Who can answer the mysterious question? Probably he 
had overexerted himself. There were at that time so many exhausting 
hardships and severities to go through that many—even Albright himself, 
afterwards—had a worse experience than Epaphroditus, (Phil. 2, 27-30.) 

The preachers became sacrifices to the work. But the Lord provided 
for the small band a fresh, valiant hero, whose energy gave the work a 
powerful impetus. 


§72. George Miller’s Conversion and Call to the Ministry. 


This strong man of God, George Miller, born in Pottstown, Montgom- 
ery County, Pa., and raised in Alsace, Berks Oo., was a millwright by pro- 
fession, and a miller too. He had been in a penitent state for some time. 
When he heard Jacob Albright preach in 1799, on the text : “Behold I set 
before you the way of life and the way of death,” (Jer. 21, 8.) Miller says, 
“T was so wrought upon by his powerful sermon, that if IT had not seized 


14 HISTORY OF THE [1805. 


hold of a table, I should have fallen to the floor. After the sermon I con- 
versed with him. His exhortation was short, but powerful. He said, 
‘You must pray earnestly, humble yourself, take the cross of Christ upon 
you, and believe with the heart, then you will soon find peace.’ The next 
day I accompanied him to his appointment and heard him preach again 
and when we separated I requested him to pray for me.” But Miller strug- 
gled on in this condition until 1802, when Albright visited him and prayed 
so powerfully with him and his family that he “was moved to tears.” 
He went with Albright next day and heard him preach so powerfully and 
with such great liberty, that he became convinced that he could do this 
only by the grace of God assisting him. Deeply affected by this sermon, 
he again finally resolved to seek God with all his heart. He now requested 
Albright to preach in his house, and an appointment was made. How he 
was finally delivered out of the horrible pit of sin he relates as follows: 

“In the meantime (until Albright’s appointment) I prayed a great deal, 
beseeching God in my closet for the forgiveness of my sins. 

‘The grief of my soul was so great that I had the appearance of being 
sick, nothing in the world affording me any pleasure. I had only hunger- 
ing and thirsting for the grace of God in the pardon of my sins. * * * 
On June 3rd, 1802, I wept and prayed all day while engaged at my work, 
walking back and forth in my mill, frequently falling upon my knees in 
prayer, calling to God for help, and vowed to serve Him only, whatever 
might be the consequences. . 

“As I thus gave myself entirely to God through faith, to serve Him 
alone, I was permitted in the evening to havea glimpse of the saving mercy 
of God’s grace. 

“ By faith I saw God looking upon me, and while beholding his gracious 
countenance a stream of his love flowed into my soul, and I was certain 
that God was surely my friend and I his accepted child. Yea, I was so 
quickened by the reception of his grace, and pervaded by such peaceful, 
sweet and happy emotion, that I could not refrain from praising my Re- 
deemer for his great mercy and love. 

“That night I could sleep without any cares, joyfully resting in Christ. 
The following morning there was a great change indeed. The heavens and 
the earth seemed new. The Scriptures had become a divinely quickening 
power ; yea, to me all things appeared as if they increased my happiness, 
for God had become my friend. Glory be to God on high for his love and 
mercy.” * 

it is evident from this brief narrative that Miller’s conversion was not 
a superficial one, but was deep and radical. During his long penitential 
struggle he diligently searched the Scriptures and digged down through 
mere human rubbish until he found the rock of salvation, upon which he 


*) Albright and his Co-laborers, pp. 187, 188. 








1805. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 79 


could stand firmly, and the Lord gave him, instead of lamentations, “a new 
song in his mouth, even praises unto God.” * 

Miller having opened his house for Albright and his helpers to preach, 
the Word of God had a blessed effect, some others were converted, a class 
was formed and Miller was made its leader. He also attended the “council” 
in 1803 and took an active part in its transactions. He soon felt an in- 
ward call to preach the Gospel so strongly that he had no rest until he 
entered the Gospel vineyard, and placed himself—as an Evangelical saying 
has it—“upon the walls of Zion.” Another beautiful Evangelical phrase 
originated probably with Bro. Miller— When speaking of the great joy and 
blessedness he realized after he experienced the pardon of hissins he based 
it upon this fact: “For God was my friend.” When afterward he was sev- 
erely tried, and in a meeting obtained the victory, he joyously exclaimed, 
“God is my friend,” This remarkable phrase became proverbial, and was 
adopted in class-meetings and love-feasts, and has been in use in Pennsyl- 
vania-German circles of the Church until this day, to express a conscious 
state of Divine favor. 


§ 73. Miller Becomes an Itinerant Preacher. 


When he entered upon his calling as a traveling preacher, Mr. Albright 
accompanied him for a few days through parts of the country that were 
strange to him, but after ten days he was directed to travel alone and look 
up new preaching places in Lancaster County.t He prayed and wept 
much in secret, in the forest and elsewhere, that sinners might be con- 
verted. Sometimes he had to sleep out-doors, using his saddle for a pillow, 
whilst his hungry horse sought pasture in a field. He was entertained 
by a man named Lescher, in Lancaster County, several miles southerly of 
the well-known “ Miihlbach””— the place where the Albright Church now 
stands. Lescher gave him permission to preach in his house. Among 
the many visitors who came to hear the new preacher were also George 
Becker and others from Miihlbach, and a number were converted to God, 
Miller was then invited to preach at Miihlbach, where a revival took place 
and a class was formed. This was the beginning of the work at this place, 
which became quite important in the history of the Church. 


A corroborative report of the beginning of the work at Miihlbach was 
found among the posthumous papers of GrorGE BEcKER, who was one of 
_ the first members of the Church at that place. He makes the following 
statements : 

“The Evangelical preacher Jacob Albright and his co-laborer George 
Miller came into the neighborhood called Schwamm (Swamp), in Lan- 
caster County, Pa., a few miles south of Miihlbach, in the year 1805. (See 


~*) Psalm 40. a a AA ACUNG HEARS Ue 


~) Already at that time and for many years afterward young preachers had to 
do pioneer missionary work. G 


76 HISTORY OF THE [1805. 


also “Albright and his Co-laborers, pp. 200-202) and Miller preached at 
that place in the house of JAcosp Lescurer. Many people came to hear 
the new preacher and a number became convinced that his doctrine was 
from Gud and that the preacher was a servant of the Lord. After a few 
sermons at Lescher’s an awakening began. CATHARINE BECKER, of Mihl- 
bach, was awakened and called mightily upon God till she was blessed 
with the pardon of sin and praised God with a loud voice. The devil now 
became angry, because a soul had been rescued. All this was some- 
thing quite new to the people in our neighborhood, Bro. Jonn LEFFLER 
then opened his house for preaching and there Albright and Miller obtained 
a permanent preaching-place. Bro. Leffler was already converted to God, 
and his wife was penitent and later on also obtained the victory of sal- 
vation. 

“FREDERICK Becker came to me at least three times, saying: ‘Ob, 
come, George, and hear our new preacher!’ [I promised. In two weeks should 
be preaching at 3 o’clock in the afternoon. I went to my brother SAMUEL 
BEcKER, and asked him, whether he would not go with me to hear the new 
preacher. He consented, and we went. The sermon was powerful and 
many hearts were touched. On returning home I asked my brother : ‘What 
do you think of this preacher?’ whereupon he answered: ‘This world is 
very wicked, and these preachers don’t come by chance—God has sent 
them.’ JI and my brother became much attached to this sort of preaching 
by Albright and Miller, and I said to my brother: ‘ You had better permit 
these preachers to hold meetings in your house.” But he answered, as he 
was a deacon In his Church it was not expedient for him to take the meet- 
ing into his house, ‘but,’ he added, ‘it would suit very well for you to take 
it, you had better do it.’ Upon this I did not answer much, I was willing 
enough, but there was somebody else who made me timid. But we dili- 
gently attended the meetings. At one time, when the meeting was to be 
in the Swamp, it was a rainy day and we had visitors, but I prepared 
to go to the meeting, when my wife said to the visitors: ‘George has dis- 
covered a new meeting in the Swamp, and he thinks that he must be there 
every time ’— and then added, speaking to me: ‘Do tell those preachers 
to come and preach here too.’ This was exactly what I desired. So I told 
the preacher to make an appointment at my house, which he did. But 
later on my wife did not want the meeting any more. When I reported 
this to Bro. Albright, he said, ‘Oh—— the woman will yet be converted ; 
I will go into the house and talk with her.’ When he came out from 
the interview he told me, ‘she has consented to have preaching again ; and 
now, George, at such a time—there will be meeting here again at 10 A. m, 
and in the afternoon and evening. There will be four preachers here on 
their way to a big meeting.’ 

“Upon the appointed time came Jacob Albright, John Walter, George 
Miller—the fourth I cannot now recollect. Several converted friends also 


St i), -eaer eS 


1805. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 77 


attended, and also the neighbors. The preachers proclaimed the Gospel, 
attended with the power from on high, and the Lord put his mighty hand 
to the work, so that sinners cried mightily to Him for the pardon of their 
sins—and I, George Becker, also obtained the divine peace. Blessed be 
the Lord! Whether others also found grace I cannot tell, but when the 
power of God came upon the meeting with such force many sinners fled 
from the house, and even left behind some of their clothes, shoes, etc. 
Here also, as in the Acts of the Apostles, the inquiry was heard: “ What 
meaneth this ?” 

“Julianna Leffler was also there, but went home in the evening; when 
John Leffler arrived at home he spoke to her, but received no answer. 
Then he fell upon his knees and prayed to God for his wife that He might 
show mercy to her; then he arose, but fell on his knees again, and wrestled 
in prayer for her. Now the adversary was conquered, and she leaped out 
of bed and exclaimed: ‘The devil must flee!’ And the enemy did flee, 
and the grace of God was poured into her heart, so that she began to sing, 
and shouted and praised God. 

“From this time forth there was preaching in my house. The work of 
God went forward. Sinners were converted, a class was formed, and Bro. 
John Leffler was elected classleader. He then received a certificate from 
Bro. Albright to this effect: ‘Now I give to John Leffler the right to hold 
class-meetings and exhort, so long as he conducts himself properly. Jacob 
Albright.’” 

John Kleinfelter has also copied a notice, which Rev. John Walter sent 
(no date) to the classleader, John Leffler, as follows: “I hereby inform 
you that I will stay at Samuel Becker’s this evening, and I wish you would 
come together in an evening meeting, for God is working wonders in Samuel 
Becker’s house. I wish you would bring the class-record along, John 
Walter.” This meeting was evidently intended to be a class-meeting. 


George Miller proved himself, as it were, another Elijah, full of holy fire 
and burning zeal. He preached with power, and not like unto the spiritually 
dead “scribes” of his time. He was also gifted with executive talents. 


§ 74. The Work Becomes Influential. 


This movement now began to penetrate society, and exerted a marked 
influence among the German people ;the children of God took new courage 
and prayed with redoubled earnestness and faith, but the enemies also raged 
more madly. The Evangelical heralds of repentance and conversion went 
like burning and shining lights through the eastern counties of Pennsy]l- 
vania, They showed the people their deeply fallen condition and the 
wretchedness of sin in the hearts of men and of the churches. They cried 
aloud and spared not: ‘ Repent and be converted, that your sins may be 
blotted out!” John Walter sometimes preached for two hours on the last 
judgment until sinners trembled and cried out: “God, be merciful, or I am 


78 HISTORY OF THE [1805. 


lost!” Albright frequently preached with such unction and power that 
persons sank upon their knees and cried to God for deliverance; and 
Miller — a veritable “Son of Thunder”,* —proclaimed the Word with such 
power that some of his hearers, even such as had been the greatest enemies, 
and had come to cause disturbance, fell to the ground as if dead, and after- 
ward prayed for mercy. In their preaching they freely made use of the 
Word of God, catechisms, hymn-books, etc., to convince the people. They 
prepared themselves for preaching with much prayer and searching of the 
Scriptures, and then the Word came forth from their mouths sharper than 
a two-edged sword and had its effect, in accordance with Hebrews 4, 12. 13. 
and Isaiah 55, 11. 

Learned, but unconverted, and hence spiritually blind parsons, began 
to perceive that these “unlearned and ignorant”, men would tear away 
their rotten foundation, and commenced to sound the alarm-trumpet from. 
their pulpits: “ Ho, ye dear people, awake!—awake! Seducers and false 
prophets have come among you who will cause you to fall away from the 
faith. You have sworn to your Church, but these rovers want to seduce 
you, and if you permit yourselves to be misled by them you become per- 
jurers and covenant-breakers, and you will be lost forever and ever! These 
vagabonds sneak into your houses and first of all capture your weak women, 
as the apostle says. We must fight, or these ‘Strawelers’ will take away 
our place and nation.” 


§ 75. Expressions from Satan’s Dictionary. 

The epithet “Straweler” (strugglers), which the enemies of the work 
invented, can not be found in any German dictionary; it is evidently a 
Pennsylvania-German word which became in the mouth of the people and 
in their imagination, the expression and sum total of all that is contempt- 
ible. t A “Straweler’’, that is to say, a person who repented, forsook sin 
and sinful company, was converted and saved, and glorified God, etc., would 
be expelled from the Church ; he was hated and dreaded more than the 
devil himself; he would be stigmatized as being a “Knierutscher, Kopfhin- 
ger, Schwirmer, Krichzer, Heuchler,’¢ etc., and the praying people collec- 
tively were called with strong emphasis: “‘ these miserable people !’’ Among 
the masses of theunconverted and ignorant this had great effect; the 
consequences of such popular hatred and prejudice were very unpleasant, 
and frequently resulted in dangerous attacks and riotous scenes. 

Rey. William W. Orwig writes the following concerning the rise of the 
word “ Straweler”: “The origin of this approbious term, formerly so often 


*) Mark 3, 17. 

+) Acts 4, 14. 

t) A certain parson once tried to tell how bad those ‘‘ Strawelers” were, and in his 
haste used this self-condemnatory expression: ‘‘ They are as little converted as Jam!” 

2) Some of these epithets are untranslatable. The reader may get at their mean- 
ing by the following: Knee-sliders, head-hangers, fanatics, groaners, hypocrites. 


1805. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION, 79 


applied in this country to Methodists, the members of the Evangelical 
Association and other zealous Christians, we have not been able to trace. 
But it is in all probability of American origin, and derived from the German 
word ‘Strampeln,’ which means to struggle with the feet, etc. Hnemies and 
scoffers of zealous and active Christianity may have taken occasion to 
apply this term to them from the fact that in the meetings, under the 
powerful preaching of the first Methodist preachers in this country, as also 
of the preachers of the Evangelical Association and others, sinners were 
often seized with fear and terror, and being wrought upon by the power of 
God, frequently fell involuntarily to the ground, and under a deep sense of 
their lost and wretched condition and danger, like many on the day of 
Pentecost under the preaching of Peter, they exclaimed inquiring what 
they must do to be saved, wringing their hands, struggling with their feet, 
and making other violent gestures, and when it pleased God to remove 
from them the burden of their sins, and to give them peace and consolation, 
they sometimes leaped for joy, burst out into shouting and praising God, 
and gave vent to the joy of their hearts by clapping their hands. Now 
such wrestling, similar to that of Jacob with the Angel of the Covenant, to 
enter in at the strait gate, such tears of penitence, like those of the back- 
slidden Peter, or of the great female sinner at the feet of Jesus, and others: 
being under the sense of guilt appeared to an ignorant church populace 
and their blind leaders as not only foolish but even absurd and blasphemous, 
Hence like blind Saul, they thought to do God service by despising, slander- 
ing, and persecuting his children and followers. Yet it sometimes happened 
that some of the greatest scoffers and persecutors were seized, and before 
they were aware of it, were so completely overpowered that they fell to the 
ground as if struck by lightning, and were unable to rise again, until after a 
Bevere struggle and earnest prayer, by faith in the Son of God they had 
obtained the pardon of their sins, whereupon they praised God with joyful 
hearts, to the utter astonishment and confusion of their former comrades and 
associates. Such occurrences then gave rise to the foolish notions of some, 
who believed that the preachers of these people understood magic, and were 
able to charm persons by looking at them, especially those of weaker consti- 
tutions, and particularly females, because they, generally, are neither so ob- 
durate and hardened, nor so rebellious as men. Others fancied that the 
preachers secretly scattered a mysterious powder over the hearers, whereby 
the weaker were made to fall down, to cry out, to struggle, to clap their hands, 
toleap,etc. Others again being ashamed of these foolish notions of ignorance 
and superstition, especially some carnally-minded clergymen and some medi- 
cal wiseacres accounted for these phenomena on other principles. They either 
ascribed them to hypnotism or the oceult agency of the devil and wicked 
spirits, or else represented these manifestations as being hypochondriacal 
and hysterical. But admitting this explanation another difficulty arises, 
namely, the fact that persons in whom these phenomena have taken place, 


80 HISTORY OF THE (1806. 


and still take place, had never before been afflicted with these diseases ! 
Such quacks in spiritual matters might indeed have been fitly answered in 
the words of our Saviour, addressed to the Sadducees: “Ye do err, not 
knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God.” 

Both history and experience teach that similar phenomena take place, 
to a greater or less extent, during all great and true religious revivals, es- 
pecially in this country. This was the case during the great revival in 
New England in the times of Jonathan Edwards; during the great awak- 
enings brought about by the first Methodist preachers in Virginia, Mary- 
land, the Carolinas and other States, as well as that in the Presbyterian and 
Baptist Churches, and it still occurs in our times.—Especially did this take 
place under the powerful preaching of Messrs. John and Charles Wesley 
and George Whitefield.* And in those German Churches of our land, in 
which revivals were suffered to take place, great care had te be taken, or 
rather the Spirit of God had to be quenched, in order to prevent such phe- 
nomena. But then, the consequence of such decorous proceedings was, that 
these revivals, conducted after the rules and regulations of men, as to codes 
of propriety, were necessarily superficial and of short duration, the power 
of God being restrained, and did more harm than good. For this reason 
also, they have come into great disrepute, and are now carefully avoided in 
said Churches. 

Far be it from us to justify all extravagant demonstrations, and bodily 
exercises, either during revivals or other religious meetings. It is highly 
probable that, to the injury of the genuine work of the Spirit, spurious 
elements have at all times mingled with it; but he who is too much afraid 
of ‘wild-fire’ is in danger of mistaking the genuine for such, and to come to 
that zone of the moral heavens where he must freeze to death. Notwith- 
standing this, preachers and officers of the Church cannot guard too care- 
fully against everything spurious and excessive, during revivals and other 
religious meetings.” 


§ 76. George Miller Presses Victoriously Onward. 


“But if it be of God ye cannot overthrow it,’ t once said Rabbi 
Gamaliel, and this word was now again fulfilled. In the year 1806. the 
work expanded considerably on the “old circuit” east of the Susquehanna 
river. At Miuhlbach, Tulpehocken and the “Schwamm,” glorious revivals 
took place and respectable classes were formed. Also at Paxton, near 
Harrisburg, a class was established. George Miller labored the greater 





*) Also during the remarkable awakening in Ireland, in 1856-57, which spread also 
over England, Scotland, etc. Such outward phenomena appeared frequently and very 
remarkably. 

+) Orwig‘'s History of the Evangelical Association, pp. 29-31. 

t) Acts'5, 39. 


1806, | EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 81 


part of the year—about eight months—alone on the Northumberland cir- 
cuit. Alexander Jameson, however, left the work and located, on account 
of family affairs. Albright and Walter sometimes came over to assist 
Miller at “big meetings.” 

How this young hero (Miller) went to work on his extensive field of 
labor is very instructive and edifying. He was a man who “mastered the 
situation,” and fully understood the work and its difficulties, and as he had 
been for a short time before on this circuit, he was well acquainted with its 
circumstances. “I therefore resolved,” says he, “to begin the work with 
fasting and prayer, and by the assistance of God, and without hypocrisy, to 
preach the truth of the Gospel, even though I should not gain the favor of 
any person, only so that God was satisfied with me. Consequently I prayed 
often from one appointment to another, that I might please God, and be 
useful to my fellow-men. And to the praise of His name l dare say that I 
have not labored in vain, for [ often preached with much grace and divine 
power.” * 

'o this Rev. William W. Orwig remarks: “He who commences and 
continues his labors in such a frame of mind, and with so deep an interest 
in the salvation of his fellow-beings, surely his labors in the vineyard of 
the Lord cannot fail to prosper.” f 

A few extracts from Miller’s autobiography will show very ciearly what 
success he had. On the 25th of October, 1806, a “big meeting” was to 
commence at Martin Dreisbach’s, sen., in Buffalo Valley. Albright and 
Walter were also expected to attend. How intensely Miller desired that 
success for the Kingdom of God and the salvation of souls might be se- 
cured through this meeting is evident from his own statement : “I expected 
that the penitents and newly converted, about forty in number, whom IJ had 
organized into classes, would be present at this meeting. JI prayed much 
that the Lord might send the brethren Albright and Walter, endowed with 
divine power to edify these people. On the appointed day both the preachers 
and the people were present, and also many seekers. My feelings cannot 
be described, for I both sorrowed and rejoiced. I experienced the truth of 
the remarkable words of the Lord: ‘Blessed are they that mourn, for they 
shall be comforted.’ I mourned with the penitent, and yet I rejoiced in 
the consolations of the grace of God. [I was appointed to preach the first 
sermon. During preaching, the power of God came upon the people, so 
that many fell upon their knees and cried for mercy. Albright and Walter 
preached with great power and plainness, so that finally the congregation 
was visited with a powerful outpouring of the Spirit of God, and sinners 
could be heard calling upon God in every room of the house. In all parts 


*) Albright and his Co-laborers, pp. 221, 222. 
T) Orwig’s History, ete. p. 32. 


$2 ISL ORY SOR NTTTE [1806. 


of the house there was also heard the voice of thanksgiving and praise, for 
there was great joy in the Lord among the brethren.’* 

“Soon after this meeting,” says Miller, further, “a general reyjva] 
broke out on my circuit, and no opposition of man could hinder it, so that 
after two months there were already over eighty newly converted persons 
within my borders. he Lord had also given me some co-laborers, who ex- 
horted very fervently, and in the power of God, and many houses were 
opened for holding divine service. God had so blessed me with faith- 
power, that when I prayed with seekers they sank to the floor, and for hours 
jay in an apparently unconscious condition.”t 

Such agonizing prayer for souls, such fearless preaching of the whole 
counsel of God, without respect of persons, such devotion to the work of the 
Lord will produce anywhere and at all times more or less of these blessed 
results. Ought not every Evangelical preacher imitate this excellent ex- 
ample ? 

§ 77. A Written Covenant. 


These three remarkable men of God—Albright, Walter and Miller— 
were already intimately united in “fighting the battles of the Lord” against 
Satan and sin, but they deemed it proper to establish their union also in a 
formal manner and thereby make it stronger still. Of this Miller says: 
“Albright, Walter and myself renewed on the 27th of October,our covenant, 
still more earnestly to prosecute the work of the Lord, by a short, written 
contract. Bro. Albright admonished and encouraged us to continue our 
work courageously and fearlessly, and lead as many sinners to Christ as 
possible.’’t 

It was in perfect order that after such prayers and labors Bro. Miller 
could at the close of his labors for eight months on the circuit, report more 


*) In the year 1845 John Dreisbach, who had attended this meeting as a young man, 
wrote as follows: ‘Albright, Walter and Miller, preached in the power and demon- 
stration of the Spirit. It was like rapidly succeeding showers of rain, attended by 
vivid lightning and mighty thunder, which shake up everything. Many souls became 
willing to call upon God for mercy, and many received divine comfort. The love of 
God was shed abroad in many hearts, and they shouted a loud Hallelujah to their 
heavenly Redeemer. Oh, my heart becomes kindled anew by the heavenly flame at 
the recollection of that heavenly time! Oh how many dear children of God, who 
were present at that meeting are already above, where they praise God and wait for 
our coming !” 

+) Albright and his Co-laborers, p. 227. 

t) How solemn and blessed were the meetings of these servants of God! And how 
excellent also and how remarkable was their written covenant, to prosecute the work 
of the Lord with still greater earnestness, although they had hitherto already devoted 
themselves entirely toit. What an example for Evangelical ministers at their assem- 
bles. If at Quarterly Meetings, Camp-meetings and Annual Conferences, ministers 
would thus solemnly unite to prosecute God’s work, who could calculate the blessed 
results that would spring therefrom ? 


1807.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 83 


than one hundred saved members on his field. The apostle Paul regarded 
his spiritual children as being his honor and joy, yea his crown. He who 
desires to wear such a crown, let him pray and labor as did Paul and Miller. 
Increased statistics of this kind will cause joy, not only on earth, but also 
among the angels before the Throne. 

At this time the Association had only three itinerant ministers, name- 
ly, Albright, Walter and Miller; but there were now four local preachers : 
Charles Bissey, Jacob Phillips, Solomon Miller and John Dreisbach ; the 
latter was a promising young man in his seventeenth year, who afterwards 
became one of the leading men in this Church. 


§ 78. Subsidiary Contributions. 


No definite regulation for collecting funds for the support of the 
preachers had as yet been adopted, the friends giving voluntarily, in the 
broadest sense of the word, their mites for this purpose. But now a special 
arrangement was made for this matter by taking up a subsidiary collection, 
which was done by subscribing and paying an optional sum for the wants of 
the preachers, and also for the poor in the Church. These preachers were 
willing even to be classed with the poor. 

This collection was continued many years, but later it was taken 
up for the preachers exclusively. It was still in vogue when this 
writer joined the Church (1836), but was dropped soon after, and other 
arrangements were made. During this year the brethren came to the con- 
clusion that it would facilitate the work to hold Annual Conferences in the 
future. 


§ 79. The Original Conference. 


The year 1807 was in many respects a very important year for the 
Association. The Original Conference was held, and thereby the history 
and era of Conferences commenced in this Church. Up to this time the 
affairs of the preachers and the membership were directed by Albright, 
though mostly after consulting the preachers and leading men at “big meet- 
ings.” But the work was spreading, and the concerns of the Church in- 
creasing, and hence it was felt that the time for holding Annual Conferences 
had come. 

In the month of November, 1807, the first Conference of the Evangeli- 
cal Association was held, and represented the entire work of that time. 
Being the only Conference in the Church, and legislating for the whole 
Church, this Conference embodied in itself the Quarterly, Annual and Gen- 
eral Conferences, for the time being. The session took place in the house 
of SamurL Beoxer, at Miihlbach, then Dauphin County, Pa., now Klein- 
feltersville, Lebanon County, Pa. The Conference consisted of all the 
officers of the Church, itinerant ministers, local preachers, classleaders and 


84 HISTORY OF THE [1807. 


exhorters; viz., 5 itinerant preachers, 3 local preachers, 20 class-leaders and 
exhorters— 28 in all. 

“What a joy it must have been for this little. band of brethren to be 
thus assembled in singleness of heart, and in the fear of the Lord, for the 
purpose of deliberating upon the best means to prosecute successfully the 
work committed to their charge. But we can also in some measure con- 
ceive how great their embarrassment must have been, to transact their bus- 
iness without any rules as a guide, and without experience in such matters, 
It seems, however, they were led in their arrangements mainly by circum- 
stances and exigencies; and as they deeply imbibed the principle that 
everything depends on God’s blessing, they looked up to Him in full 
confidence, and prayed that He might assist and prosper them in their 
work.’* 

The Association up to this time had not even adopted a name, The 
salvation of souls was their chief concern, for this was the work to which 
these men of God knew themselves to have been divinely called. The out- 
ward organization or arrangement was a secondary matter, as the directions 
of Providence and the pressure of circumstances would indicate. 

Neither had they adopted any Church Discipline nor Articles of Faith. 
Although the council of 1803 had declared the Holy Scriptures, as their 
tule of doctrine, faith and practice, experience had taught them that it 
would be desirable as well as advantageous for the successful progress of 

the Church to have a well-arranged synopsis of Christian doctrines, duties 
_ of Christians, Church government, etc. 

It seems, moreover, that the preachers had as yet received no formal 
or Official licenses, because no Conference had yet been held. Albright 
himself had received a good attestation from the council in 1803, and he 
gave to his co-laborers written testimony of their standing, as he regarded 
it proper, but this could not always remain thus. These and other matters 
had to be arranged properly. 


§ 80. The Conference Adopts a Name. 


This Conference gave the Church it represented no distinct name. 
We shall see hereafter that Albright was at this time not fully convinced 
whether this work should be continued separately and independently in the 
future or not. He had never intended to found a new denomination, he 
committed this matter to the Lord, and looked confidently to His providential 
guidance. But the Conference adopted:a Conference-name by calling itself 
“The Newly-Formed Methodist Conference.” Albright had been a Methodist 
and was such still in his heart, faith and practice. If he had been allowed 
to fulfill his mission to the Germans within the Methodist Church, he would 
have remained in that Church, and the Evangelical Association would 


*) Orwig’s History etc., p. 36. 


1807. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCTA TION. 85 


probably never have come into an existence, yet he was methodistically 
minded all his life-time, and so were all his co-laborers, and hence came 
this designation of the conference quite naturally .* 

A formal, official preacher’s license was by this Conference devised and 
adopted. The reader will see a photographic copy of it on the following 
page. The original was filled up and signed by Albright himself for JoHn 
_DREISBACH, who was then received as probationer into the itinerancy. 

This document is of yreat historical importance for our Church, because 
it attests several important facts, and is also the only document extant 
that bears Albright’s handwriting.t 

One may see that this writing was made with a trembling hand. Over- 
work and great exhaustion of his strength already manifested their conse- 
quences.—The Conference also resolved that the licenses of the preachers 
should be renewed annually, and that the preachers in charge should also 
give the appointed exhorters written licenses. 


§ 81. Albright Elected Bishop and Requested to Compile a Discipline. 


It was quite natural and proper that Albright should guide this Confer- 
ence by his godly counsels, and that Conference willingly followed his ad- 
vice, for somebody had, under God, to be the leader at this time of this body, 
which had as yet no special regulations for their guide. George Miller tells 
us that “the Conference recognized the necessity of having a Church Dis- 
cipline, and upon the advice of Bro. Albright, the Episcopal form of Church 
Government was adopted, and we chose him to compile it and have it pub- 
lished.”t 

After that they proceeded to the election of a Bishop, and the choice 
fell, of course, upon Albright. George Miller was also elected to the order 
of an elder,? and John Dreisbach and Jacob Frey were received as preachers 
on probation. 

What this Conference understood by the office of bishop, is very 
evident from the fact that in doctrine and practice, all of these ministers 
and men were Methodistic. Albright himself had been a zealous Metho- 
dist, and was so still in spirit, and beside him labored the highly esteemed 
Bishop Asbury in the Methodist Church. He had studied and adopted the 


*) Rev. John Kleinfelter, who entered the itinerant ministry some years later, con- 
firms in a posthumous paper the fact that this Conference called itself, ‘‘ The Newly- 
Formed Methodist Conference.” 

+) His journal was lost after his decease. If we still had that treasure it would 
be of inestimable value, and fill out many a gap in the early history of the Evangelical 
Association. 

{) Albright and his Co-laborers, p. 238. 

2) The original Conference Record says, “4. Jacob Albright was elected Bishop 
by a majority of votes, and George Miller as elder.” This means an elder as distin- 
guished from a deacon in the ministry, and not a presiding elder. 


HISTORY OF THE [1807, 


86 








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1807.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 87 


Methodist Discipline, and was an advocate of their form of government, 
which he then recommended to this Conference, and which was adopted. 
The Conference called itself officially, as we have seen, “ The Newly-Formed 
Methodist Conference.”” Who then can doubt the fact that the Conference 
elected Mr. Albright Bishop in the Methodistic sense? This was not re- 
garded as a mere honorary title, it was a real, important, working and ad- 
ministrative office. He was, of course, elected without limit as to the ten- 
ure of the office, and according to the act of Conference and the official 
record thereof he was without further note or comment, or any modification 
the first Bishop of the Evangelical Association, 

Through this Conference the work of the Association received a pow- 
erful impetus, and the courage of the preachers and members was greatly 
angmented. They realized that the work was being better organized and 
also strengthened outwardly. 

The number of church-members was at this time 220, that of itinerant 
preachers 5, and local preachers 3. There were, besides these members, 
many adherents, scattered over a wide territory, who had not yet joined the 
organization. 


§ 82. Albright’s Health Declines. 


The general health of this man of God was by this time very much 
impaired and declining rapidly. Severe labors and extreme hard- 
_ ships had their effect upon him and speedily superinduced consumption. 
Yet he continued to travel almost constantly, visiting congregations, su- 
perintending the work, and preaching often, During the following Winter 
(1808), he accompanied the youthful Bro. Dreisbach on his tours over 
the “old circuit,’ because the latter was as yet inexperienced in the work, 
He seemed to cherish a special attachment to this excellent young man, 
and endeavored by good instructions to prepare him for the future. Dreis- 
bach refers thereto as follows: “ His excellent instructions and his pious 
example were very useful to me, as well as his earnest prayers, his child- 
like trust in God, and his humble submission to His holy will. These 
things made deep impressions upon my mind, and were a great help to me 
in my calling and work as a Christian minister. Oh, what a blessing it is 
to a young preacher to have such a leader and counsellor.’’* 

The “old circuit’? was now served by George Miller and John Dreis- 
bach and was extended over a vast territory—through the present counties 
of Dauphin, Lebanon, Lancaster, Berks, Bucks, Montgomery, Northampton, 
Lehigh and Schuylkill,— including almost the entire territory of the present 
Kast Pennsylvania Conference. It had 30 appointments, of which not a 
few were 20-30 or more miles apart. This was an immense field of labor, 
and because of the poor roads, which were frequently almost impassable, 
difficult to travel even on horseback. 





_ *) Albright and his Co-laborers, p. 108. 


88 HISTORY OF THE [1808. 


At Millersville, on the Conestoga river, in Lancaster county, a number 
of souls were converted, and the class was increased by the addition of 20 
new members, among whom was JOHN ERB, who soon after entered the 
itinerancy. On Northumberland circuit the work also progressed. 


§ 83. Albright’s last ** Big Meeting,’”? and Stationing of the Preachers. 


Upon Easter, 1808, a “ big meeting” was held in the house of JoHn 
Brosst, in Albany township, Berks county, Pa., where Albright stationed 
the preachers for the last time. He appointed John Walter and Jacob 
Frey on Lancaster and Schuylkill circuit, and George Miller and John 
Dreisbach on the Northumberland circuit.* A week later, at a “big meet- 
ing” held in the house of Peter Radenbach, near Linglestown, Dauphin 


county, Pa., Albright met his brethren in the ministry for the last time on — 


earth. 

Concerning this meeting Rev. John Kleinfelter states in a memoran- 
dum the following: ‘‘Here he was most of the time confined to his bed on 
‘account of great weakness. On Sunday he desired to be present in the 
meeting which was held in the barn, two of the preachers led him thither 
and seated him upon the preacher’s stand, but on account of great faintness 
he could not remain, and they were obliged to take him back into the 
house. From there he intended to go to Mihlbach to George Becker’s, 
but being unable to travel alone, he was accompanied by Jacob Gleim and 
Abraham Walter to that place.” 

When he left Radenbach’s he gave the parting hand, for the last time, 
to George Miller and John Dreisbach, saying to the latter : 


“ Kéimpfe bis auf’s Blut und Leben, 
Dring’ hinein in Gottes Reich.” 


From that place these brethren traveled to their new fields of labor, 
and the first they afterward heard of Albright was the report of his death! 
At the big meetings aforementioned, a number of sinners were converted, 
and God’s children greatly strengthened.f 


§ 84. Albright’s Course Nearly Finished—His Retrospect. 


Albright’s disease was caused by exhaustion, in consequence of too 
ereat exertions and hardships, which then turned into quick consumption. 


*) John Dreisbach wrote. the following in his journal: ‘ At the Easter meeting 
Bishop Jacob Albright appointed George Miller and John Dreisbach on the Northum- 
berland circuit and John Walter and Jacob Frey on Lancaster and Schuylkill circuit.” 
This is a direct testimony that the preachers recognized Bishop Albright really 
as Bishop, The unhistorical attempts made in modern times to cast doubt upon 
Albright’s episcopacy are sheer tnventions. 

t) Mr. Dreisbach adds this remark: “ When at that time a ‘big meeting’ was held, 
then it was understood that the travelling preachers would attend and assist each 
other, and not only the preachers, but many of the Christian friends would come 80 
to 100 miles to such meetings.” And not a few would walk all that distance. 


a a 


1808. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 89 


He had now arrived at the close of his itinerant career which he had fol- 
lowed for about twelve years under great difficulties, persecutions and con- 
flicts, and which resulted in the conversion of many souls and the glory of 
God. He was now rapidly sinking, and turned his face homeward to die.— W hat 
thoughts now moved his soul may be seen from the following touching words 
which a friend noted down: “And now I thank God, the Most High, and 
to Him be eternel praise for His grace, which He has given unto me, that 
He has kept me steadfast in the faith, and pure in life, through the trials, 
persecutions and sufferings, which have befallen me in this life, permitting 
me to see that His grace was not bestowed upon me in vain. The seals of 
my ministry are the converted brethren and sisters, whom I have begotten 
through the Gospel, and whom I am certain to meet again in heaven, if 
they remain steadfast in faith, love and hope. And I trust firmly in God, 
that unto me will be given the inheritance of the saints in light—an incor- 
ruptible crown.” * 

Who can imagine the wonderful retrospect his weary and yet exhulting 
soul had in the review of the wonderful ways God had led him since 1792, 
and especially since 1796, when he first entered into the itinerant work, and 
was impelled to go upon the divine call, “a way he knew not.” And now, 
behold, the blessed, glorious results of his obedience to God.—It was 
spiritually logical that during his short sickness, while his soul was spread- 
ing its wings for glory, it was also often— 


‘Lost in wonder, love and praise.” 


§ 85. His Last Journey Homeward, to Die.—His Blessed Departure. 


When he left Linglestown he intended to reach home and there close 
his career; but arriving at Miihlbach he felt that he must desist, and as he 
was brought into the house of George Becker, he said: “Have you my 
bed ready? 1 have come to die.” And there he lay down to arise no 
more. 

During his sickness he had close communion with God. And yet here, 
on the verge of heaven, the enemy of souls made a last fierce attack upon 
him in his great weakness, but he looked to God in earnest, childlike sup- 
plication, A number of visiting brethren and sisters joined their prayers 
with his, and soon he obtained a glorious—yea eternal victory. The friends 
often held prayer-meetings in his death chamber ; upon these occasions 
he was filled with the power of endless life, and praised God with his now 
feeble voice, 

Shortly before his death an experience meeting was held, and when 
the leader put the question to him, asking how he felt, he answered, 
“Happy and heavenly,’ and with a smile added, “Soon J shall reach 
Heaven, and praised God. He thanked the Lord that he was privileged 


#) Albright and his Co-laborers, p. 115. 


90 HISTORY OF THE [1808. 


to die in the company of God’s people, instead of worldly men who talk 
only of carnal things, and was so overwhelmed with joy in God that he re- 
quested those around him to join him in glorifying God. When the end 
came, he desired again that the friends should meet at his bedside and 
pray. 

The last scene has been described by Rev. George Miller, as follows : 
“He retained the perfect use of his mental powers to the last. A tranquility 
of mind which only the consciousness of a well-spent life of good works and 
noble deeds, and the assurance of eternal life and future blessedness can 
give, could be seen upon his countenance. He bade an affecting and affection- 
ate farewell to those who were present, requesting them to unite with him in 
praising God, who would soon take his soul unto Himself. He grate- 
fully praised his Maker for His providential care over him, and for the 
guidance of his hand, through which he was led to experience peace, and 
joy, and a living hope, through faith in God. No one present remained un- 
affected. Every one felt a strong desire to die as this righteous man 
died.” 

One of those who were present says: “Thus our pious Albright 
calmly and peacefully fell asleep in Jesus. During the time he bade adieu 
to the friends with great joy, the house seemed to be filled with the power 
of God. The children of God felt that Heaven was near, and praised God 
for the manifestation of his power.” Thus this faithful servant of God 
entered into the joy of his Lord, on May 18th, 1808, in his 50th year. 


Surely, as the Christian poet says, 


“The chamber, where the good man meets his fate, 
Is privileged above the common walks of life— 
Quite on the verge of Heaven!” 


§ 86. The Solemn Burial. 


The funeral took place on the 20th day of May. An immense con- 
course of people attended the services, among whom were many who 
had been led from darkness into light by his labors. John Walter, his 
first co-laborer, preached a powerful and touching funeral sermon on Daniel 
12, 3.: “They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament ; 
and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars for ever and ever,” 
An eye-witness reports as follows : Q 

“A number of Albright’s spiritual children accompanied his remains 
to their resting place. Many were so richly blessed that they praised God 
with shouting and joy for His unspeakable grace. Among the people in 
general, the happy death of this man of God, and the richly-blessed funeral 
sermon, produced a deep conviction and awakening. Several of the inhab- 
itants made applications to the preachers before they left the place, for 
preaching in their houses. In this was our sainted brother even in death 


1808.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIA TION. 91 


an instrument in the hands of God to spread the Gospel and true Chris- 
tianity.”* 

His remains were buried in a family cemetery near Kleinfeltersville, 
where in years after the Albright Church was built as a memorial.—Upon 
a plain tombstone one may read the following inscription : 

“In memory of the Evangelical preacher Jacob Albright, born May 
Ist, 1759, and died May 18th, 1808, aged 49 years and 17 days. His re- 
mains rest under this stone. ‘Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death 
of his saints,’ (Ps. 116, 15.)” 


§ 87. The After. Effects. 


The effects of Albright’s death upon the feelings of preachers and 
members were very painful. To the ministers, who clung to Albright with 
the most intense love, as true children to a good father, his sudden depart- 
ure was a most painful shock. They felt like Elisha when he called after 
Elijah, “My father! My father! The chariot of Israel, and the horsemen 
thereof.” They often gave vent to their feelings in the most sorrow- 
ful weeping, and their grief would have become almost intolerable, if their 
love to him had not wished him the enjoyment of sweet rest, after his days 
of hardship, and if God’s promises had not been their strength and comfort. 
The membership, which largely consisted of his spiritual children, also 
deeply mourned on account of the loss of their spiritual father. 

The world—inside and outside of the Churches—was greatly elated, 
and shouted lustily : “Now they are fallen! Their Albright is dead, now 
it is all over with them!” “ But,” said George Miller, “in this they greatly 
erred ; though Albright had died, God still lived, who owned this work as 
His, and hence also knew bow to prosper and spread it. Thanks be unto 
the high and glorious God, who does not despise the lowly and the humble, 
but rather chooses them for His possession.t 

The death of Albright had also the the tendency to induce preachers 
and people to consecrate themselves still more fully to God and His work, 
and the work grew mightily until this day. 


§ 88. Characteristics of Albright. 


It will be quite proper in this place to insert a condensed description 
of Mr. Albright’s person and character. 


1. As regards his person—he had a well-formed symmetrical body, of 


*) Albright and his Co-laborers, pp. 116-120. 
¥) Albright and his Co-laborers, p. 119. 


92 CLS DOR CIP Ld fe [1808. 


a little more than medium size, which made a favorable impression upon 
persons around him.* 

2. His personal habits were of an excellent order. He kept himself 
and his dress very clean and neat, thereby furnishing an example that 
cleanliness and godliness are closely related, and that a Christian’s body 


should be kept pure as a temple of the Holy Ghost. He was punctual in all 


things. When writing he was careful not to soil anything with ink; when 
in the morning he left his bedroom everything was left in good order. In 
his time nearly every one made some use of whiskey, because the opinion 
prevailed that it was conducive to good health, but he abstained altogether 
from the use of all strong drink. He was industrious, economical, and 
radically honest. By his business he acquired a competency of several 
thousand dollars before he went forth preaching. To preachers he recom- 
mended economy, etc. 

3. His natural and acquired talents were of no mean order. He pos- 
sessed a clear, sound judgment, coupled with a goodly portion of 
“mother wit.” In temporal matters he comprehended things quickly, and 
usually also correctly. After his understanding had been enlightened by 
the Spirit of God, his spiritual views were correspondingly clear and reli- 
able. He had a meditative mind, which was, however, supported by a well- 
balanced, active temperament which secured him against melancholy. His 
sift of speech was more than ordinary ; although he himself did not regard 
it highly, yet many of those who heard him testified that more than one 
talent was given him in this respect. In preaching, the Word was often 
given him with “ utterance, that he could open his mouth boldly to make 
known the mystery of the Gospel,’ + so that even his adversaries were over- 
whelmed with astonishment and wonder. 

In his time the schools in Pennsylvania were in a poor condition. The 
State did not care for the education of the young. Oniy private schools 
were held during a few months in the year. The country was in great part 
yet a wilderness, where Indians and wild animals roved about. In such a 
private school he learned to read and write, and also the rudiments of arith- 
metic. 





*) John Dreisbach furnished the following interesting, personal description: ‘“ He 
had a high forehead, blue, clear, and somewhat deeply set and penetrating eyes, a 
well-formed, slightly Roman nose; mouth and chin in good proportion; his face was 
somewhat narrow and oblong, hair black, complexion fair, and body symmetrically 
formed. In him the sanguine and choleric temperaments blended, his movements 
were quick, but always graceful. When, in later years, he became a minister of the 
Gospel, his personal appearance made such a favorable impression that the remark 
was sometimes made: “Why he looks like an angel.” —This expression was the more 
emphatic because the outery raised against him by persecutors had impressed many 
that this man must be a sort of monster.” 

Tt) Ephesians 6, 19. 


1808. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 93 


But a spirit like his will press forward ; although he spent his younger 
years among strange people and heard nothing but the Pennsylvania-Ger- 
man dialect, he acquired the correct pronunciation of the German language, 
so that he could make use of it in preaching. With an English dictionary 
he also mastered the English language so far that he could, when circum- 
stances required it, deliver an English address. He also had a large com- 
mentary of the Holy Scriptures, but the Bible itself, and the hymn-book 
and catechism, were his greatest treasures. Other books were exceedingly 
scarce at that time. ; 

4, He was methodical, and highly esteemed good order in a Church, 
hence he was so much delighted, after his conversion, with the discipline 
of the Methodist Church. And for this reason he could not abide with 
those good people who in his time called themselves ‘Independents,’ ‘ Im- 
partials,’ ‘Liberty-People,’ etc., rejecting Church-order and discipline. 

5. He was modest and unassuming, hence the last man who would 
put himself forward to found a new denomination, in order to achieve no- 
toriety. Only necessity and duty impelled him to form a few classes in 
1800; the further organization was undertaken only because the work and 
circumstances made it necessary—and during his life-time it received not 
even aname, Only a few months before his departure he said to John 
Dreisbach, in a familiar, open-hearted manner, when the latter ‘deplored 
the probability that Albright could not, on account of failing health, 
compile a Discipline and Articles of Faith: “Jf it is the will of God 
that you should be and remain a Church, then He will also provide for 
you in this respect; men will appear among you who will be able to ac- 
complish that which I shall not be able to do, It is the work of God, and tt 
is in His hands, He will also provide for it.” From the time of his call to 
preach the Gospel, which was, as it were, pressed upon him, until his death, 
he regarded this work as a work of God. 

6. In juxtaposition to this it is to be said that he was also a very firm 
and decided man after he had clearly ascertained that which is true and 
right. When he clearly understood the will of God, he submitted to it un- 
hesitatingly and obeyed the truth. No difficulties, nor hardships, nor self- 
denial, nor persecutions, nor inner trials, nor anything else, could then 
move him from the right path. In divine things he did not consult flesh 
and blood, nor unconverted men. He yielded his ear to the voice of God, 
after he had learned the divine will through the Word and Spirit of God, 
and the use of sanctified reason. 

7. Albright sought only the glory of God and the salvation of men. 
As one proof among many we quote his affectionate advice to his 
colleagues and co-laborers when they had met for the last time on earth : 
“In all that ye do, or think of doing, let your object be to enhance God’s glory, 
and advance the work of His grace in your hearts, as well as among your 
brethren and sisters; and be diligent co-workers with God, in the way which 


94 HLS LOR Yi OL Ee [1808. 


He has pointed out to you, to which He will grant you His blessing.” This 
short, concise and excellent parting advice is certainly worthy of being 
appreciated by the whole Church, and highly and sacredly regarded by the 
ministry, yea, to be honored as a motto, and, above all, to be carried out 
practically. 

8. In his intercourse with men he conducted himself in a manly, yet 
friendly and condescending manner. He loved children greatly. He 
never spoke harshly or insultingly, even against his most bitter enemies 
and adversaries. He showed himself philanthropic and patient, especially 
when he believed that they were acting from ignorance, etc. To young 
preachers he was a tender father, and if one was severely tried, he would 
not hesitate to travel a great distance, in order to assist and encourage him 
until the tempter was put to flight.* But to hypocrites and pharisees he 
was a pungent salt, and would, if necessary, apply to them his keen 
‘“‘mother-wit” in a very effective way. 

Summarizing the whole of his character we would say in the words of 
John Dreisbach: “Jacob Albright was a man of whom the Evangelical As- 
sociation has no reason to be ashamed in any respect ;’’ and of whom the 
Divine Master by His Spirit and providence has clearly said: “He is a 
chosen vessel unto Me.” (Acts 9.) 

We add the testimonies of two of Albright’s fellow-laborers, George 
Miller says: “This godly man had preached the Gospel for nearly twelve 
years. The immediate fruit of his labors was the conversion of at least 
three hundred souls, who were diligently striving to serve God and have 
no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. They strove to build 
each other up in the unity of faith, in accordance with the command of 
Christ and His apostles and the directions of their faithful teacher. * * * 
His public prayers and sermons were powerful, penetrating and convincing, 
although delivered in a simple manner, not with the enticing words of 
human wisdom, but he spake as one moved by the Holy Ghost, whose 
power manifested itself in all his addresses. Love for his fellowmen 
seemed to pervade him; he prayed for his enemies and persecutors, and 
neglected no opportunity to promote their welfare and lead them into the 
path of truth. Even his gestures, looks and movements often revealed the 
presence of God’s Spirit within him, so that his hearers were deeply 
affected without the utterance of many words on his part. At times he 
entirely forgot his body and himself, and then such a degree of inspiration 
was upon him that he stepped from the desk or table into the middle of 
the room, without perceiving it himself. When these strong emotions filled 
his soul, wonderful joy was seen in his countenance, praises to God 
flowed from his lips, and his whole being was in motion. Whatever comes 





*) See avery striking and touching example of this in Albright and his Co. 
laborers, pp. 215-218. 


1808. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION, 95 


from the heart reaches the heart, and hence his hearers were so touched, 
that the seed of the Word did not fall among thorns, but bore precious 
fruit. He discharged his ministerial duties with earnestness and punctu- 
ality ; he never neglected an appointed meeting if the condition of his 
health in any wise permitted him to be there, nor did he merely discharge 
his ministerial duties as such in a perfunctory manner, but fulfilled them 
with delight and joy. He was diligent in cultivating and promoting spiritu- 
al union with and among his brethren, watching with paternal solicitude over 
their conduct, himself being a good example, endeavoring to the best of his 
ability to promote true holiness of heart among them. 

“The persecutions and sufferings, which he had to endure for Christ’s 
sake, he bore with great patience, meeting them with gentleness and kind- 
ness. He considered the grace of God, which he had received, so great a 
blessing, that all the sufferings of this life bore no comparison to the joy it 
Christ, in calling sinners to repentance, and in urging believers to follow 
after holiness, and thus he became a chosen vessel of God for the promo- 
tion of the revival of true godliness, for the grace of God rested visibly 
upon him and his work. None of his enemies, though trying their utmost, 
could do him the least harm, for in all he did, he sought the glory of God. 
This was the chief principle of his life, which he always endeavored to in- 
culcate. He lived nearly eighteen years in a state of grace, and realized 
many experiences of the gracious providence and protection of God in his 
earthly career.” 

John Dreisbach furnished the following statement: “As a preacher, 
Albright was very cheerful and amiable in his intercourse with the people 
and spoke very pointedly of conversion and growth in grace, yet also dis- 
creetly and thoughtfully. He was an early riser, searched the Scriptures 
diligently ; at the places where he stopped he at times retired to a 
grove with his Bible for meditation and prayer for hours. When stopping 
with a family he would, when practicable, go into a room alone and spend 
a long time in prayer before preaching. When the people had assembled, 
he came forth from his room, so filled with the Spirit of God that his 
countenance seemed to shine with the lustre of heavenly wisdom. This 
then made such an impression upon the people, that at times deep emo- 
tions were awakened by the heavenly expressions of his countenance, before 
he arose to preach. 

“Both in his preaching and intercourse with the people he made 
a very judicious use of circumstances, incidents and illustrations. For 
instance — passing by a garden in which some persons were at work, he 
stopped a minute for conversation and admonished them in this wise: 
‘My good people, do you also consider that Jesus agonized and struggled 
in the garden of Gethsemane until his sweat became drops of blood, for 
the purpose of making your hearts gardens of God?’ When he found no 


96 | AIISTORY OF THE [1808. 


access by word of mouth he left a few written lines. At one time he visited 
his brother Daniel Albright, who, however, opposed him stoutly, whereupon 
he wrote upon the fly leaf of the family Bible : 

“Viel besser nie geboren, 

Als ewiglich verloren.”’ 

“ Much better never born, 

Than to be forever lost.” 
This brother was afterward converted and died happy in the Lord.’* | 


§ 89. An Eventful Year. N 


It will be seen that the year 1808 was a very eventful year for the lit- 
tle Church. The departure of Albright was a loss to them that could not 
be measured nor compensated. Their spiritual father was gone and they 
keenly felt their state of orphanage, but amidst their tears they could say . 
with the sainted John Wesley, “The best of all is, God is with us.” 
And the Lord did provide. George Miller already developed administrative 
talents; as John Walter was in this respect not greatly gifted, and the 
highly talented John Dreisbach was as yet a young man of about 19 years 
of age, it was a matter of course that the direction of the work now de- 
volved upon George Miller. 

Meanwhile the Lord led two excellent young men—Joun Erp and 
Mattuew Brtz—into this vineyard, who became very useful ministers of 
the Gospel. John Erb was associated with Walter on the “old cir- 
cuit,” because J. Frey was employed elsewhere, and soon after became en- 
gaged in matrimonial affairs and retired from the ministry. 


§ 90. Miller Compiles the Discipline. 


Jacob Albright’s decease, of course, delayed the compilation of the 
‘Discipline which had been entrusted to him by the Conference, and was now, 
after their leader was gone, specially felt to be a pressing want. It wag 
urged upon Mr. Miller to undertake this task, but as he had not been ap- 
pointed thereto and had but little practice in writing, he felt very diffident 
about it. Moreover, he was the preacher in charge on the large Northum- 
berland circuit, with Dreisbach as junior preacher.t But as Walter, who 
was now the oldest preacher, insisted upon it, Miller began the compila- 
tion in the month of December, 1808. 

After a very remarkable dream which he had, he became seriously 
sick, on the 26th of December, and was compelled to leave the circuit, and 
could not labor much as a traveling preacher from that time forth. But 





*) Albright and his Co-laborers, pp. 121, 125. 

+) Dreisbach says in hisjournal: “George Miller and I labored on our circuit under 
the blessings of God. Although our Bishop, whom we elected a half year ago, has 
departed, we had an infinitely greater Bishop—the Shepherd and bishop of our souls.” 
(1 Pet. 2, 25.) 





1808. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 97 


this afforded him the needed time to compile the Discipline. This work 
was, however, a great burden on his heart, and he tells us that he often was 
on his knees in earnest prayer to God for light and divine guidance until 
after midnight! And the Lord graciously heard him, and blessed him also 
in this good work. 


§ 91. Dreisbach’s Severe Labors, 


After Miller had left the large Northumberland circuit, as afore men- 
tioned, Dreisbach remained alone on this large and important work, which 
very much depressed him, on account of his youth and inexperience. But 
he cried to God for help, his prayer was answered and bis labor so richly 
blessed that he received a large number of newly-converted souls into the 
Church before the close of the conference year.* Bro. Matthew Betz 
came to his help before the close of the year, and labored with blessed suc- 
cess, which caused much joy. And shortly before conference HENRY NIE- 
BEL{ placed himself in the itinerant ranks on this circuit. 


§ 92. A Fierce Storm of Persecution. 


About this time there arose a vehement persecution against the Evan- 
gelical Association, which was then designated as the “ Albright people,” 
and also the “German Methodists.” The deplorable condition of the 


*) Of this he says in his journal: “Yet I believed that God could show His power 
in me—s weak youth—to His glory. With prayers and tears I drew nigh to Him for 
the needed sufficiency, and blessed be the God of all grace, that He did bless my weak 
service with a considerabie number of converted souls, nearly all of whom I received 
into the Church.” 

+) Rev.Henry Niepet’s conversion was a remarkable one, of which a few circum- 
stances are worthy of record: 

ABRAHAM Hyer, a Mennonite, removed quite early from Lancaster county to Dry 
Valley, Northumberland county, Pa., (which part of the country was then indefinitely 
called “Shamokin’’), and led, in a manner, a quiet Christian life. He was one of the 
first men in his section that entertained Mr. Albright when he first visited those parts, 
and became one of his zealous defenders. It was Father HKyer’s custom. on Sunday 
afternoons, to gather his family around the large family table, and read and expound 
to them a portion of Holy Scripture. During the time of the great awakening under 
Walter and Miller, (1805-6), a young school teacher. who wanted to prepare himself 
for the ministry in the Reformed Church, boarded with Evers. This was Henry 
Niessen. During one of these Bible readings Niebel began to criticise Father Eyer’s 
remarks, saying such and such things were unnecessary, ete. Upon this Father Eyer 
arose from his seat. stood before the young school teacher and exhorted him with 
great earnestness, telling him that he was a stranger to godliness, etc. This address 
made a deep impression upon the young man, who from that time forth could find no 
rest until he sought and found the Lord, whereupon he soon commenced to preach the 
Gospel, and later on became one of the leaders in the Association. He was a man of 
much prayer, and one of his later co-laborerers, Rev. Chas. Hammer, asserted that he 
took the marks of much kneeling in prayer with him into his grave. 


98 HISTORY (OF TLE [1808 


Churches and the people, hereinbefore described, still continued. Nota few 
of the clergymen were drunkards and immoral characters. Frequently the 
most wicked and immoral men were put into the Church offices because 
they winked at the great godlessness among the clergy and laity, and would 
themselves not to be in danger of being seduced and of falling away from 
the faith, as the current saying had it. 

But the itinerant preachers ‘cried aloud and spared not.” They at- 
tacked sin, whether it was found in the pulpit or in the pew, still more 
sharply and fearlessly. Many persons were converted, and this persecution 
almost compelled them to join the “ praying people,” whereby those perse- 
cuting parsons lost many a dollar. 

This made them still more angry, and they thundered anathemas from 
the pulpits against these “Albrights” and “Methodists,” and by slanderous 


reports they excited the ignorant populace to the most bitter villifications . 


and persecutions. 

‘Besides villifications, the enemies of live, active Christianty em- 
ployed also the press, to pour out the filth and iniquity of their wicked 
hearts against these people. One of the most noted among them wrote a 
Jampoon of the most shameful, scurrilous kind, and his colleagues assisted 
him in spreading it among the people. As many looked upon this libel as 
containing the truth, they believed themselves authorized to persecute these 
praying people as much as possible, and some declared their readiness to 
take up arms against them and exterminate them if it were not against the 
laws of the country. ‘If it were lawful,’ said one of them, ‘I would just as 
soon shoot a Straweler preacher eg a mad dog.’ Another, who on account 
of advanced age was exempt from military service, said, if the militia were 
called out for the purpose of exterminating these people, he would be one 
of the first to turn his musket upon them. These facts cannot be denied. 
Such a murderous spirit was engendered and fostered among their people 
by the clergy of those days. 

Moreover, they did not fail, at the same time, to warn their people 
most energetically against apostatizing from the faith, against hearing 
these ‘deceivers and false prophets,’ in other words, against forsaking their 
Church and joining these ‘Methodists’.’’* 

There were, of course, some noble exceptions among clergy and laity, 
but they were exceptions only. We would prefer to pass by these grievous 
facts in silence, but we must be faithful to history. 


§ 93. Terrible Attack upon John Dreisbach. 


As an instance, which strikingly shows the nature of the persecution 
that raged at that time, we insert the following : 
“It was in the month of August, 1808, when John Dreisbach returned 


*) Orwig’s History of the Evangelical Association, pp. 45-47. 


a i ee 


1808. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION, 99 


from a ‘big meeting’ held near Miihlbach, accompanied by a young brother, 
Andrew Wolf, to fill an appointment that evening in Jonestown, Lebanon 
county, Pa. ; but as he had been disturbed while preaching there before, on 
his way to said meeting, he intended to preach to the friends, without giv- 
ing public notice of it. From fear, not of the Jews, but of heathenish 
Christians, the doors had been locked and the window shutters fastened 
inside, before the services commenced. After singing and prayer the ser- 
mon began, but as, probably, the exercises had been heard by some of 
the adversaries, a mob gathered in a short time, and forcing the doors an< 
shutters open, they rushed into the house with fearful noise, and still more 
fearful imprecations, and thus put a stop to the exercises. The preacher 
then took a light and went among the crowd to restore order, but was 
seized by several ruffians and dragged toward the door, treating him very 
roughly, and extinguishing all the lights inthe house. Those who were 
dragging him, hallooed to their companions, who were outside, ‘Boys, open 
the door, we have got him now.” They replied, “Give it to him, kill the 
priest.” 

The preacher was justly apprehensive of still worse treatment, if they 
should succeed in getting him out of the house, but how to get out of their 
hands he knew not. Instantly it flashed upon his mind, as if God had re- 
vealed it to him, that if he should unexpectedly raise himself up with all 
his might, and then suddenly fall down full length, he might get out of 
their hands. He did so, and thus got rid of them, although he was still 
among the crowd in the dark. Now, as the ruffians were groping for him, 
they got hold of each other, letting torrents of blows descend on one an- 
other, each fancying that he was beating the ‘priest.’ But while they were 
thus regaling each other to their hearts’ content with blows and pushes, he 
managed to get out of the crowd, and the mob reached out doors. Alarmed 
for the minister, some of the friends hastened out also, but were seized and 
very much abused by the mob. The landlord, Peter Walter, was so much 
hurt that blood gushed from his mouth and nose. A sister was knocked 
down, and carried into the house for dead, Several other friends were also 
very roughly dealt with. 

This is one of the many examples of persecution and _ ill-treatment, 
which the first ministers and members of the Evangelical Association often 
experienced. Similar occurrences took place even 20—25 years later in 
Berks and Schuylkill Counties, Pa. 

On the following day the ringleaders of the Jonestown mob, seven in 
number, were legally charged by the brethren, and then delivered over to 
the county Court. But the enemies also brought charges against Mr. Dreis- 
bach and some other brethren, vainly hoping to gain some advantage 
thereby. 

When the case was tried at Harrisburgh, it seemed at first, as though 
they would really be benefited by it. But after all, they did not gain their 


100 HISTORY OF THE [1809. 


end; the jury found them guilty and acquitted the brethren. After the 
suit the brethren remitted their persecutors’ costs, thus showing them that 
they had not brought the suit against them for malice or revenge, but 
merely to teach them that the Evangelical Association enjoys the protec- 
tion of the law, not less than other denominations in the United States, 
and that they were determined to hold their meetings without being dis- 
turbed. The favorable issue of this prosecution had a very salutary influ- 
ence upon the public at large, benefiting other denominations as well as the 
Evangelical Association. Prior to this prosecution, tumults and disturb- 
ances of religious meetings were quite frequent, but after this they were, 
for years, much less frequent and outrageous,” * 

One of the jurors who tried the case, PHILIP BREIDENSTEIN, who lived 
near Lebanon, Pa., was soon afterward converted and joined the Church, 
and became a useful local preacher. Albright had already preached in his 
house, but the conduct of these despised people during the trial, made a 
deep impression upon him, so that he became satisfied they were Christians 
and children of God, which, it seems, led him to give his heart to God and 
his hand to this people. And thus it was, that “light was caused to shine 
out of darkness,” and the “wrath of man was made to praise God.” 


§ 94. Conference Session Omitted. 


There was no Conference held this year (1808). Probably because 
Bishop Albright was gone to his everlasting rest; George Miller became 
seriously sick, and John Walter was not adapted to lead in such matters, 
and besides, the Conference of 1807 had adopted the necessary measures 
for the present time. The brethren labored right on in brotherly unity, 
assisting each other on their fields of labor, as circumstances and wants de- 
manded it. Although it was a year of severe trials, it was also a year of 
great blessings and victories. The borders were extended and the older 
congregations advanced in divine life, and grew in knowledge and grace. 


§ 95. The Second Conference Session. 


In the month of April, 1809, the second Conference of the Evangelical 
Association was held in the house of George Miller, in Albany Township, 
Berks County, Pennsylvania, and was attended by the following itinerant 
ministers: George Miller, John Walter, John Dreisbach, John Erb, Matthew 
Betz and Henry Niebel. The latter two were received into the itinerancy 
on, probation at this session. George Miller was elected chairman, and 
John Dreisbach secretary. But as Conference had no business rules what- 
ever, and Albright, who had been their fatherly guide, was absent in glory, 
and as none of them had any experience in a parliamentary respect, they 





*) Orwig’s History, etc., pp. 49, 50. 


on Se | ee 


1809.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 101 


experienced considerable entanglement in their proceedings. However, they 
succeeded in completing the necessary transactions, and agreeing upon 
some important measures. Jacob Frey was deposed from the ministry and 
expelled from the Church for transgressions. John Walter and John 
Dreisbach had the degree of Elder given to them. John Walter and John 
Erb were appointed to the Lancaster and Schuylkill circuit, and John 
Dreisbach, Matthew Betz and Henry Niebel to the Northumberland circuit. 
George Miller was requested to travel and preach as much as his health 
might permit, and also to write something for the edification of the 
Church, | 


$96. Publication of the Discipline Ordered. 


George Miller had completed the Discipline and now laid it before the 
Conference in manuscript. It was accepted and Miller instructed to pub- 
lish it at his own expense, for Conference had no funds and could not con- 
trol any. Miller carried out the instructions and the little book sold so 
rapidly that the cost was soon covered. Concerning this the compiler says, 
“The results of this Discipline in the Church were, that all received new 
courage, steadfastly to retain their union with God and with one another, 
and a number were persuaded to unite with us, in order to work out their 
salvation according to these rules. Thanks be unto God the Father, 
through our Lord Jesus Christ, who permitted me, as an unworthy instru- 
ment, also todo something in my bodily weakness to the honor of His 
name.” ) 

Now in consideration that this Church Discipline was a production of 
much prayer and meditation, that George Miller was taken out of the itin- 
erant service by Providence, in order to compile it, and that the little book 
proved to be a great blessing to the Church—the hand of God is very 
clearly seen in this important matter. 

It should be added here that Rev. Henry Boehm, who was a Meth- 
odist minister, procured a translation of the Methodist Discipline into the 
German language, made by Dr. Ignatius Roemer,* which was published 
in the year 1808, from which George Miller transferred the article on 
Christian Perfection, and most of the Articles of Faith and a few other sec- 
tions, literally, into the Discipline of the Evangelical Association.t 

This, our first Church Discipline, was a small book of 75 pages, and 
contained besides the the “‘ Rules” also doctrinal essays taken from the 
writings of Wesley and Fletcher on “Christian Perfection,” “Predestina- 
tion,” “Final Perseverance of the Saints, and a dissertation against “Anti- 
nomianism.” 


*) See Bishop Asbury’s Journad, vol III, p. 293. 
t) This translation was, however, defective, and for that reason its language was re- 
vised by a committee appointed by General Conference of 1879. 


102 HISTORY OF THE [1809. 


Hence it was also an excellent doctrinal guide for both preachers and 
members.—The title page portrayed quite an effort, in accordance with the 
custom of those times to exhibit in extenso what the contents were, as 
follows : , 

‘‘ Doctrines of Faith, and General Rules of Christian Church Dts- 
cipline and Order of the so-called Albright People, intending to show the 
purpose of their union with God, and among themselves, in order to work 
out their soul’s salvation, through the Grace of God, and in the unity 
of faith and chaste obedience to such rules, to live and walk according to 
the Word of God. Upon the advice of the Elders of this Evangelical 
Community, and the instruction of the Conference. Published by George 
Miller, Reading. Printed for the Author, by John Ritter & Co., 1809.” 

John Dreisbach had also translated a small catechism from the ‘Eng- 
lish into the German language, and Conference directed him to have it — 
printed for the use of the Church, which was also done. 

The first preachers of the Evangelical Association clearly recognized 
the great importance of instructing children and young people in tbe doc- 
trines of the Holy Scriptures through a catechism and otherwise. They 
even regarded this as a main feature of their calling; all assertions to 
the contrary are groundless. John Erb manifested special zeal in this 
respect, and all the itinerant preachers applied themselves earnestly to this 
matter. 


§ 97. The Name “The So-called Albright People? Adopted. 


l This Conference also resolved to adopt the name: “The So-called 
Albright People,” which shows clearly : 

1. That these men and brethren were in no wise ashamed of the stigma 
“Albright People.” They knew Albright as having been a man of God, 
whom the Lord himself had highly honored with rich blessings, and who 
had in all things been a man and a pattern for them, and who could say: 
“Follow me, dear brethren, as I follow Christ.” 

2. But that this designation was a temporary one, as the word “ so- 
called” indicates. It was not the name that they originated. It seems 
they had not yet come to a clear understanding what the permanent name 
of this Association should be. 

Jacob Phillips, a local preacher, one of the oldest members, who had 
also been a member of the Council in 1803, entered during the year into 
the rest that remaineth for the people of God. 

The number of members was found to be 426, an increase of 206, dur- 
ing the past two years, which was nearly doubling the membership. But 
it should be kept in mind that many others were awakened who did not 
join, At that time it required moral heroism to take up the “cross” of per- 
secution connected with membership in this despised band of “ praying 
people.” 





1810. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION, 103 


§ 98. Progress of the Work.—Second Ordination of Ministers. 


During this year (1809-10), five new classes were formed. During the 
Winter season considerable revivals took place on the Schuylkill and Lan- 
caster circuit. Among the new converts were Davip THomas and JoHN 
SEYBERT,* who afterward became itinerant preachers, and Lewis Henky, 
George Lauz, John Ripley and David Boyer, who became local preachers, 
On Northumberland circuit the work progressed victoriously. 





*) Joun Seysert’s conversion was 4 rcmarkable one, and as he himself became « 
remarkable factor in our history, we insert a description of it here. 

MartTHew Berz was, by the grace of God, the instrumentin the awakening and con- 
version of John Seybert, and became thereby his spiritual father. This took place in 
1810, in Seybert’s 19th year. The general ‘‘talk’”’ that the Evangelical preachers were 
deceivers and false prophets who should appear in the “ last times,” had also influ- 
enced Seybert so far that he began to think it might possibly be so. But he and one of 
bis comrades concluded they would attend one of the meetings, in order to hear and 
judge for themselvesand get tc the bottom of this matter. The preaching was to be in 
® private house, and when they came there Seybert’s companion refused to go into the 
house, but Seybert went in, and after awhile his companion followed him. The de- 
tails of what then took place are reported as follows: 

Seybert seated himself on the foremost bench, the farther end of which reached the 
table, behind which the preacher was already seated. It was about the time the 
preachers delivered their last sermons before going to Conference. As Seybert thus 
sat there before the table, his keen eyes inspected his surroundings, but especially the 
preacher, the books, and the book in his hand, and so far nothing seemed very remark- 
able, except that he thought the preacher had unusually long fingers. He thought 
then that this must be the kind of fingers these “false prophets” had. 

Now the time had arrived to begin the worship. The preacher arose and read a 
hymn ina solemn manner, and after having sung a few stanzas, the preacher and 
people fell on their knees to pray, and as Seybert had come so near the table and 
among the praying people, he also knelt down. While Bro. Betz prayed 
the power of God was revealed, and seized young Seybert so powerfully that his heart 
was shaken, and he often said that during this prayer “ chill upon chill went up his 
back,” and he felt something in his heart he had never before experienced. Thus Bro. 
Betz already wounded him considerably with the weapon of prayer, and the thought 
about the long fingers and the deceiver had fled, and tremblingly he resolved he would 
stay and hear further. Of the sermon and its effects he says himself: “ After prayer 
the preacher arose, read a text and began to preach. Before he was half through I 
was freed from the hallucination that he was a false prophet, yea, I was clearly con- 
vinced that he must be a man of God, for he preached with power from the eternal 
world. And when the sermon had ended, I was convinced that I was no Christian, 
but a sinner, who deserved damnation, and who had merited the wrath of the God of 
Heaven. Then and there I received a wound through the sword of the Spirit, and a 
stroke from the hammer of the Word, from which I never recovered to this day (after 
his fiftieth year), and which will continue with me to all eternity. Blessed be God 
forever and ever!" (See Life of Bishop Seybert, pp. 25, 26.) 

He now earnestly sought salvation and continued to wrestle day and night in prayer 
and entreaty, with strong cries and tears and unabated earnestness, until he was—to 
use his own favorite phrase—‘converted deep into Eternal Life.” 


104 HISTORY OF THE [1810. 


During this year, at a “big meeting,” held in the house of Henry Esy, 
near Lebanon, Pa., the brethren George Miller, John Walter, and John 
Dreisbach were ordained Elders, as had been ordered by Conference. 

Of this ordination John Dreisbach says: “This was the second formal ~ 
ordination in the Evangelical Association, John Erb, Matthew Betz and 
Henry Niebel were also present. It was in truth a solemn, and also a 
quickening time for all of us. I felt myself more than ever devoted to God 
and His holy cause, and it was my greatest desire to be useful in His vine- 
tard. From this time onward, I felt myself more established in the work, 
and realized a stronger confidence in God.”* This also was a sign of di- 
vine approbation. The work in general gained a stronger degree of solidity, 
was still better organized, and preachers and members were united like 
“one man in the battle,” as the current saying then was. 


§ 99. Third Conference Session.—Conquests and a New Circuit. 


The time of the third session of Conference arrived, which was held on 
April 18-20, 1810, at Miihlbach, Pa., in tne house of George Becker. 
George Miller was again appointed chairman, and John Dreisbach secretary. 
in what way these appointments were made, the records do not show. 
Each session opened with prayer. Michael Becker and David Jerlitz 
were received as preachers on probation, John Erb and Matthew Betz were 
ordained deacons. John Walter, Henry Niebel and Michael Becker were 
appointed to Schuylkill and Lancaster circuit, and John Dreisbach and 
David Jerlitz to Northumberland circuit. John Erb and Matthew Betz 
were instructed to form a new circuit in the counties York, Adams, 
Cumberland and Franklin, or, in modern phraseology, they were sent into 
said counties as missionaries, to found a new mission. They had to per- 
form severe pioneer work. 

At that time the Association had no missionary society, but missionary 
work was continually done, and when a “new appointment” was gained, it 
was considered an important event. The brethren Walter and Dreisbach 
were instructed sometimes to exchange appointments with the brethren Erb 
and Betz, which was carried out with good results. George Miller was again 
requested, as his health and strength would permit, to write, travel and 


*) Rev. Wm. W. Orwig says in his History that this was the first formal ordination 
in the Evangelical Association, (p. 52), which isan error. This mistake was also cop- 
iedinto Albright and his Co-laborers, (p. 285). In his manuscript, whieh is still ex- 
tant, Dreisbach expressly says that it was ‘‘the second formal ordination.” And such 
is the fact. The first formal ordination was performed at the “council” in 1803, when 
Albright was ordained, and the above was the second in the history of the Church. 
The second ordination, like the first, was performed by the brethren themselves, in 
compliance with the order of Conference. There was no one present and participat- 
ing, who had been ordained before. The validity of such ordination has been dis- 
cussed and shown already in this work. (See pp. 66-70.) 


1810. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 105 


preach during the coming conference year. John Walter received permis- 
sion to publish asmall hymn book, and George Miller to publish a biography 
of the sainted Albright, at the expense of the itinerant ministers. 


§ 100. Conference Rules. 


This was quite a business-like and eventful session. The Conference 
adopted an order of procedure and business rules which had been com- 
piled by George Miller, and this was found to facilitate the business greatly. 
At the previous session they had entangled themselves considerably for 
want of such rules and experience. George Miller, in speaking of this, 
added : 


“ This induced me to draw up business rules for the Conference, which 
were also adopted, and we could now do our business in accordance 
with these rules, so that the majority of votes decided all questions, and 
hence evils could be suppressed and good purposes promoted, without hurt- 
ing each other’s feelings, or offending the weaker brethren. Our Confer- 
ences hereafter became seasons of great grace, in which all were edified and 
encouraged. The Lord be praised, who thus ordered it.” * 


From the record of the first Conference, of 1807, we learn that their 
elections were governed by a “ majority of votes,” but their other proceed- 
ings were evidently done by “common consent,’ under the guidance of 
Albright. But in this third Conference, 1810, the rule was established that 
the majority of votes should decide a// questions, and Miller says: “God 
blessed this proceeding,” namely, the adoption and practice of this majority 
rule. Decision by majority is thus seen to be an old Evangelical landmark. 
Without such a rule, confusion and anarchy would soon prevail. These 
old Evangelical fathers saw the danger and built a wall of protection. Can 
it be necessary in our day to inculcate this lesson ? 

In the official record of this Conference appear, for the first time, the 
signatures of the names of the participating members, which was done, 
according to the adopted rule, with great solemnity in the following man- 
ner, as the record states; ‘‘ Conference was closed with prayer to God and 

united approval of the aforementioned ordinances; and as a token of willing- 
ness to follow our calling and ordinances we sign our names as before God, 
that we are obligated to discharge our duties as our Church Discipline 
gives us an introduction into the Holy Scriptures.— 

“George Miller, John Dreisbach, Matthew Betz, David Jerlitz, John 
Walter, John Erb, Henry Niebel, Michael Becker.” 

This rule has been sacredly kept by all the Annual and General Confer- 
ences of our Church until this day, and is very properly regarded as one of 
the fundamental laws of the Church, and this act of signing at the close of 
Conference, as the crowning and sealing act of the Conference proceedings. 


‘ 


*) Albright and his Co-laborers, p. 249. 


106 MIS TORY ORNL 7 [1810. 


§ 101. John Walter as a Poet. 


It was specially remarkable that this unlearned and in an executive 
respect insignificant man, John Walter, possessed, besides his uncommon 
gift for preaching, also a considerable poetic talent. He composed several 
original hymns which acquired a place and reputation in the Church, for 


instance: “ Kommt Briider, kommt, wir etlen fort.” (Come brethren, come, 
we hasten on.), “ Wer will mit uns nach Zion gehn?” (Who will go with us 
to Zion ?) 


He also made translations of English hymns into the German lan- 
guage, which is a particularly difficult task. He was not very well versed 
in the English language, and hence was necessitated to inquire the mean- 
ing of many English words. His translation of the hymn, “ My God, the 
Spring of all my joys,” is a very successful one, and has been inserted into 
the present excellent German Evangelical hymn-book. The small hymn- 
book, which the Conference permitted him to print, contained 56 hymns, 
some of which were composed by himself. This was the first hymn- 
book of our Church. Until that time the preachers and members used the 
Lutheran and Reformed hymn-books. Walter's hymn-book appeared in 
1810, having the following title: “A small collection of Spiritual Hymns, 
old and new, for the edification and use of all souls who love God, com- 
piled and published by John Walter, minister, Reading. Printed by John 
Ritter & Co. for the author, 1810.” 

By this time it became very evident how tenderly the Lord cared for 
this little flock. George Miller wrote in prose what was necessary for the 


Church, John Walter composed hymns and published a hymn-book, and. 


John Dreisbach began to develop his executive talents—a happy triumvirate. 


§ 102. The First Camp-meeting. 


And now another important step was taken, At that time there was 
no Church edifice in the Association. Private houses were often too small 
to accommodate the masses of people, and some persons also hesitated to 
attend meetings in dwelling-houses. For these reasons Conference ordered 
that during the coming Summer two campmeetings be held. The first of 
these meetings was held on the land of Michael Maize, near New Berlin, 
Pennsylvania, commencing on the 30th of May, 1810. This was the first 
camp-meeting in the Evangelical Association.* The other was held on the 


*) This was also the first German camp-meeting held in America. Althougha union 
camp-meeting was held by the Methodists and United Brethren in 1805, it was only 
partially German. The first German camp-meeting of the United Brethren was held 
at Rocky Springs, Pa., on August 17th, 1815, and was, as Bishop Newcomer reported, 
richly blessed, (History of the U. B. Church, Vol. II, p. 63.) 

The first camp-meeting of the German Methodists was held in the month of August, 
1839, at Carthage, near Cincinnati, Ohio, and was also attended with rich blessings. 
(Chr. Apologete, July 25, 1889.) 

But the above camp-meeting at Michael Maize’s was the first German meeting ot 


-- Se a 


1810. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION, 107 


farm of Rev. George Miller, at Allemaengel, Berks County, Pa., in the month 
of October. 

These meetings caused a great stir and excited the curiosity of the 
people, for they were something entirely new in those parts. Many people 
came by these means under the sound of the word of truth, and the influ- 
ence of the Evangelical preachers, who otherwise never attended the meet- 
ings. The members came together from all directions, sometimes as 
far as one hundred miles, with their wagons, tents, etc. We may imagine 
how these friends felt while thus dwelling together. It was to them also 
quite new ; many saw each other for the first time in their lives, and they 
were greatly blessed under the powerful preaching of the Word of 
God and the devotional exercises. The truth made deep impressions 

upon the people; many were awakened, not a few immediately con- 
verted to God, and others soon afterward. Hundreds came to see what 
might take place, were wrought upon by divine power, and went home un- 
able to find rest until they submitted to the Lord. But Satan perceived 
that by these meetings an aggressive movement was made upon his 
kingdom.* 

The brethren John Erb and Matthew Betz, who were able men of God, 
‘had splendid success in the formation of a new circuit. 

Considerable revivals took place, especially in the Counties York and 
Franklin, and all about the preaching places the numbers of members 
this kind in America. Many friends came with wagons loaded with tents, provisions, 
etc., from Schuylkill and Lancaster circuits, a distance of 80 miles. | As Bro. Dreis- 
bach reported, the Word was preached with great power, and souls wereawakened and 
converted.’ 

*) The origin of camp-meetings in America has been described as follows: “In the 
year 1799 two pious brothers named Joun and Cuartes McGer, while on a tour 
through the state of Kentucky, arrived at a settlement where a Presbyterian minister 
named McGreapy was holding a sacramental meeting. The three ministers (one of 
he McGees being a Methodist and the other a Presbyterian) labored together at the 
sacramental meeting, which was attended with such an outpouring of the Spirit upon 
the people, that instead of separating as usual they continued the meeting. Others 
from the surrounding country, hearing of the extraordinary indications of the divine 
presence, came in, and the meeting was continued several days, the people meantime 
supplying themselves with provisions and lodging in covered wagons, hutsand booths. 
The McGees soon appointed a camp-meeting in an adjoining district, and subsequently 
still another, both of which were signally owned of God in the salvation of souls. 
‘These grand mass-meetings exerted no inconsiderable influence on the early religious 
history of this rapidly growing country. Their excellency as an evangelizing agency, 
especially in new countries, or in an old country, where, for the want of houses of wor- 
ship under the control of evangelical Christians, the masses of the people cannot be 
reached, is apparent. Tens of thousands on earth, and probally millions in Heaven, 
will forever bless the Lord for camp-meetings, and associate the circle of tents, the 
cool and leafy grove, the rude altar and preacher's stand, with their espousal to 
Christ."— Rev. John Lawrence. 


108 HISTORY \OF S1HE [1810, 


were increased. They organized 14 new classes and received 200 new mem- 
bers. The brethren took fresh courage, thanked God and became still more 
clearly convinced that God had called them to revive true and experimental 
Christianity in the degenerated German Churches of the country. On the 
other hand, their labors aroused more and more opposition. 

“By their labors,” says Rev. William W. Orwig, “they drew upon 
themselves the attention of the Laodicean clergy, still more, and were by 
them envied and villified, because many of the Church-members under 
their charge learned by the plain Gospel truth, proclaimed by itinerant 
preachers, to see their lukewarm and self-deceived state of soul, and ex- 
pressed their dissatisfaction with the dilapidated state of the Church. Not 
a few of them left their pastors and joined the despised Albright people. 

“But it was especially the doctrine of purity of heart and life, as preached 
by our ministers, which this Laodicean clergy hated and declared to be er- 
roneous and dangerous, saying that it was impossible to keep the command- 
ments of God, and to lead a holy life in this world, although the word of 
God insists on this throughout, and requires it as the fruit of faith, exclud- 
ing, however, all meritorious claims to Heaven. Some declared openly that 
in this life none can keep the commandments of God, that even the holiest 
of men sin daily in thoughts, words and deeds, and that whosoever imagined 
that he could become free from sin on earth, was fatally mistaken. And 
whosoever opposed or refused to accept this false doctrine, which tends to 
lessen the merits of Christ, dishonors Christianity and consoles and strength- 
ens men in their sins, was by them denounced as being self-righteous, sanc- 
timonious, and hypocritical. 

“Many of their followers very willingly accepted this doctrine, which is 
so pleasing to fallen nature, because sinners may thus comfort themselves 
that they may be good Christians, but at the same time continue daily in 
sin; as may readily be supposed, their conduct agreed with their belief. 
The dispute upon this and some other doctrines continued for years, and is 
in some places not yet settled. However, it cannot be denied that the light 
of truth has driven this and other errors into the background, in some 
places exterminating them altogether, which happy result is in no small de- 
gree attributable to the instrumentality of the Evangelical Association.”* 


§ 103. A Remarkable Conversation between Rev. John Dreisbach 
and Bishop Francis Asbury. 


Sometime during this year (1810) a very interesting and important 
event occurred. It so happened that Bishop Asbury, of the Methodist 
Kpiscopal Church, filled a preaching appointment in the village of Halifax, 
Pa.,on the Susquehanna river; on the following day John Dreisbach, 
Bishop Asbury and Rey. Henry Boehm, also of the M. E. Church, rode to- 





*) Orwig’s History, ete. pp. 55, 56. 


Sse Sl. lO eh 


1810. | EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 109 


gether on horseback, along the river towards Harrisburg. Of the conversa- 
tion that took place among this select company, Dreisbach gave to this 
writer a very interesting report which is also essentially reproduced in Or- 
wig’s History of the Evangelical Association, as follows : 

“After we had for some time freely conversed on various Christian 
topics, the Bishop made me a very liberal and respectable offer, on certain 
conditions, to unite with his Church. I was to withdraw from the Evan- 
gelical Association, and go with these men to Baltimore to attend their 
Conference, there to join their Church, and then to travel a year with 
Jacob Gruber, who was then presiding elder, for the purpose of better 
acquainting myself with the English language, wherein Bro. Gruber might 
be very useful to me, so that I might then be able to preach, according to 
circumstances, both in German and English, and I was to receive a salary 
as if [ had traveled on a circuit, etc. 

“Moreover the Bishop remarked, that by being able to preach in both 
languages, I could make myself the more useful, and that among them 
there would be less danger of my becoming self-exalted and falling away, © 
than in my present position, etc. 

“But, however enticing the offer and truthful thestatement of the Bishop 
was, I could not resolve in my mind to take such a treacherous step toward 
the Evangelical Association. I therefore told the Bishop that we consid- 
ered ourselves called of God to labor principally among the German pop- 
ulation, and that thus far our labors had not been in vain. ‘To this he re- 
plied that the German language could not exist much longer in this country, 
etc. Il rejoined that if this should prove to be the case, it would then be 
time enough to discontinue preaching in German, and gave it as my opinion 
that this would not very soon occur, but that the German language would 
rather increase, at least so long as the immigration from the old world con- 
tinued. 

“J then gave him my views, in which I expected my brethren to concur, 
and made him the following offer: ‘If you will give us German circuits, 
districts and Conferences, we are willing to make your Church owrs, he one 
people with you, and have one and the same Church government.’ ‘This 
cannot be, it would be inexpedient,’ was the Bishop’s reply. 

After more remarks by these brethren on the same subject they parted, 
near Harrisburg, in a friendly, brotherly manner. The Bishop embracing 
Bro, Dreisbach, gave him Fletcher’s “ Portrait of St. Paul,’ as a present, 
and wished him prosperity in the work of the Lord. This took place on 
the 2d day of August, 1810, and after that time these brethren never saw 
each other again on earth. 

Bishop Asbury’s reply to Dreisbach’s Menace That would be 
inexpedient,’ had a much greater bearing than the Bishop supposed. 
Thereby the two Churches remained separate, and the Evangelical Associa- 
tion was necessitated, in order to be obedient to her calling, to labor on in- 


110 HISTORY OF THE [1810. 


dependently—whereby probably the more souls were saved, especially 
among the Germans of Pennsylvania, and also in later years among German 
immigrants, 

It is quite remarkable that in later years the Methodist Church 
adopted precisely the policy which Bro. Dreisbach proposed to Bishop As- 
bury, in giving the German work, begun by Dr. William Nast, the permis- 
sion to have German Circuits, Districts and Conferences within the Metho- 
dist Church, and God has greatly blessed that arrangement to the salvation 
of thousands of souls. And this presents to us the problem: Was it 
providential that Bishop Asbury rejected the very sensible proposal made 
by Bro. Dreisbach, or did the Bishop stand in the way of Providence, by 
adhering to the opinion that largely prevailed in his time—however erro- 
neous subsequent facts proved it to have been—that the German lan- 
guage would soon cease in this country ? Who can tell ? 


§ 104. Small Salaries. 


On this subject Rev. Wm. W. Orwig writes as follows: “The Confer. 
ence of the preceding year had by resolution made it obligatory upon all 
itinerants to present at each Conference,a correct report of their income 
and expenditures. The support of the preachers was, however, very small, 
and by no means sufficient for their wants. During this year they received 
only thirty dollars. No arrangements had as yet been made for the support 
of the families of the ministers, and single and married men received 
almost the same salaries. Now, as thirty dollars does not suffice even to 
keep an itinerant in clothes during all seasons of the year, and as most of 
them were poor, it may be easily imagined that most of those who had 
families soon located, and followed some secular calling. This had a very 
deleterious effect upon the Association, as in consequence, the Churches 
were from time to time deprived of the services of the more experienced - 
ministers, and the majority of the preachers in active service were young 
and inexperienced men. So long as the first zeal for the Lord’s work and 
honor continued it might answer, but afterwards it would be found very 
convenient and advantageous for the preachers, while at work in the min- 
istry, also to receive a sufficient support for themselves and their families. 
Yet it was a long time before the ministers of the Evangelical Association 
received an even approximately adequate support. This neglect was, 
doubtless, one of the causes why the society for so many years made such 
slow progress, and its membership, instead of increasing, sometimes even 
decreased. There was too great a want of practiced and experienced itin- 
erants, and their insufficient support prevented a more rapid increase of 
their numbers.’”* 

And yet these poor preachers were willing, and did, give part of their 


*) Orwig’s History of the Evangelical Association, pp. 59, 60. 





1811.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION, 111 


small income to the support of poor members of the Church. They obeyed 
the injunction of the apostles to “remember the poor,” according to the 
word of the Lord: “The poor you have with you always,” and, “ Inasmuch 
as ye have done it unto one of the least of my brethren, ye have done it 
unto me.”* 

These men were indeed entitled to denounce such pretended ministers 
as preached for “filthy lucre’s sake,” as hirelings. 


§ 105. Fourth Conference.—Instruction of Youth.—Progress.— 
Letter from John Erb. 


The fourth session of the Conference was again held at Miihlbach, from 
the 9th to the 11th of April, 1811. George Miller was again elected chair- 
man and John Dreisbach appointed secretary. 

The statistics showed 740 members, 8 itinerant and 12 local preachers, 

Leonhart Zimmermann was received into the itinerant ministry on 
probation, and Henry Niebel was ordained as deacon. The preachers were 
stationed as follows: Schuylkill and Lancaster circuit, John Walter, Mat- 
thew Betz and David Jerlitz ; Northumberland circuit, John Erb and Leon- 
bart Zimmermann; Franklin and York circuit, John Dreisbach, Henry 
Niebel and Michael Becker. 

The Conference resolved that the preachers should hold “ instruction of 
children” regularly. Until that time this had been done irregularly, which 
was not satisfactory. These first Evangelical preachers were strong advo- 
cates of catechetical instruction as a means whereby to lead young people 
to Christ, and establish them in a correct knowledge of the plan of salva- 
tion, and their labors in this respect were not in vain. This also is an “old 
Evangelical landmark.” 

This Conference session was closed according to Conference rule in the 
following solemn manner, as the record tells us: 

“Conference was closed with prayer to God, and with united approval 
of the aforementioned ordinances and resolutions; and as a token of our 
willingness to follow our calling and ordinances we subscribe our names as 
before God, and thereby we also confess that we are under obligation to 
discharge our duties as our discipline gives us an introduction into the Word 
of God. 

“George Miller, John Walter, John Dreisbach, John Erb, Matthew 
Betz, Henry Niebel, Michael Becker, David Jerlitz, Leonhart Zimmer- 
mann.” 

It will be seen that the Conference did not have a stereotyped form of 
making their closing statement, but the rule of signing the proceedings for 
the purpose expressed, was sacredly kept. 





*) Gal. 2,10. Matth. 26,11. Matth. 25, 40. 


1 Put HISTORY OF THE [1812, 


Over 200 new members were received into Church’ fellowship during . 
the year, but the actual increase was only 21. For some reason many 
members were lost, but this circumstance was nowhere explained, Possibly 
the facts that the statistical reports were imperfect, and that members were 
removing beyond the limits of the Church, especially to Western New York, 
may serve as an explanation. The cireuits were greatly enlarged by the 
addition of new appointments. In the month of May a camp-meeting was 
held on the land of Philip Breidenstein, near Lebanon, Pa., which was 
oreatly blessed. At Shrewsbury, in York Co., Pa. a great revival took 
place, which extended its influence into the State of Maryland. Bro. Dreis- 
bach and his colleagues saw beautiful fruits of their labors.—Also in the 
vicinity of Seitz’s and Reber’s above Shrewsbury, awakenings took place. 
At Dover, on the Conewago stream, doors and hearts were opened, among 
them was also the family of the Reformed minister Ettinger, who after- 
wards nearly all joined the Evangelical Association. From this family 
three sons entered the ministry : Adam, Benjamin and Jacob Ettinger ; the 
first two became itinerants. Other itinerant ministers came from these 
revivals, as, John, Jacob and Adam Kleinfelter, John Frueh, Jobn and 
Moses Dehoff, and later Joseph Dick. At Shippensburg, in Cumberland 
County, Pa., also, an awakening took place, from which John Vandersall 
and Abraham Buchmann stepped into the ranks of the itinerancy. This 
was the glorious harvest of the good seed that had been sown. Also on 
Northumberland circuit, under the labors of John Erb and Leonhart Zim- 
mermann great revivals took place, and they received more than 100 new 
members into the Church. 

A letter from John Erb to Bro. Walter, written during this Conference 
year, throws so much light upon the spirit and manner of these men and 
their labors that we insert it here. It is as follows: 

The 14th of January, 1812. 
To John Walter : 

My dear brother in Christ :—May God be your portion and Christ your 
support. I will let you know that I, praise the Lord, am still well, and I 
hope these lines will find you all enjoying the same blessing. I herewith 
inform you that I am stillas determined to continue in God’s work with soul 
and body, as I have ever been. And I cannot forbear to write to you of 
the work of the Lord on our circuit. The Lord has done great things for 
our circuit, and to Him be eternal praise. Many souls have been converted 
during this year. The fire is burning on the circuit, and we hear the praise 
of Immanuel in the tents of the righteous. Our friends are in earnest, and 
continue steadfastly in the work, as those who are built upon the founda- 
tion of the apostles and prophets. : 

Further, I cannot refrain from writing what God has wrought at our 
watch-meetings. Eternal praise be to God for his grace. During these 
meetings fifteen souls were saved. We have received seventy persons into 





1812.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 113 


Church fellowship, the most of whom are pardoned, and yet many others 
are penitent. The deacon in Derrstown (Lewisburg), was converted, and 
the whole village is in commotion. God be praised, for he works mightily 
at all places. O brother, what will not God do forus! Only have strong 
faith in proclaiming the Gospel, and pray for us. The devil is very angry 
and roars terribly; his emissaries oppose us as much as possible. They 
attempt to close up the breaches with hypocritical work, but the Lord sends 
heavy showers, and causes the breaches to become wider than before. 

The persecutors are very furious ; they have cut my cloak and saddle 
into pieces, and try to place many obstacles in the way, in order to check 
the work of God, but thanks be unto God, who equips me more with power 
and faith to carry on his work. Long ago they have waited for my end 
but it seems as though the Lord would again grant me good health. 
Further, I think there will be five brethren who will start out by next 
Spring to preach the Gospel. God be praised that he sends us laborers, 

I salute Bro. Miller and his family, and Bro. Betz and Bro. Jerlitz, 
and all the brethren and sisters. The Conference will be held at Dreis- 
bach’s. The “big meeting” on the 4th of April will be at Meesen’s, and on 
the 11th at Spangler’s. I send this letter with Michael Deibler, whom I 
commend to you in the Lord, to instruct him in the work of God. We 
desired very much to see Bro. Weber. Our circuit is too large for two to 
travel, so we wish he would soon come and help us, 

January 27th, 1812. 

On the 25th the Lord wrought mightily in our midst. Ten souls 
were converted and many others are seeking. God be praised, for the mir- 
acles of His grace! QO brother, what will the Lord not do for us! Only con- 
tinue earnestly in prayer and have faith in God, and He will do great things 
for us, Pray for us. Brother Zimmermann and the brothers and sisters 
salute you. From your brother and co-laborer in the Gospel, 

Joun Eres. 
In Northumberland County.” 


What holy zeal, faith and love for souls and the work of God breathe 
through these simple, artless words. Nearly one hundred years later they 
are still an inspiration to the like-minded reader. 

From Bro, Erb’s letter we see how the preachers notified each other of 
the times and places of their “big meetings.” John Dreisbach writes con- 
cerning their mutual assistance at this time (1812), as follows: “The 
preachers informed each other of times and places of their ‘big meetings.’ 
We now had no presiding elder nor Bishop, but we were co-workers with 
each other, and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ was with us abundantly. 
We enjoyed such a measure of the love of God that such mutual service 
was a pleasure.” Envy was a stranger among these servants of Jesus 
Christ ; the common and all-absorbing object was the glory of God and the 


114 HISTORY OF THE | 1812. 


salvation of souls. This spirit is the true pattern for Evangelical 
preachers. 

George Miller assisted the brethren, as his feeble health permitted, 
in casting forth the Gospel net. He also wrote a small book, entitled: 
“Practical Christianity” (Thaitiges Christenthum), which has become a 
blessing to many, and deserves to be read by many more. 

Mr. Miller was also requested by this Conference to compile “an Epis- 
copal plan of government,” which involved a considerable enlargement of 
the Discipline relative to Church government. Henceforth he labored at 
this task. In 1813 he promised Conference “to finish the addition to our 
Discipline, if God would grant the grace.” He had at that time already 
commenced the improvement and enlargement of the Discipline, and 
labored at it until his decease in 1816. . 

The salary of the preachers reached this year the sum of fifty dollars. 
This was unheard of in the history of the little Church.—Still those preachers 
having families were constrained to repeat: “Lord, what is this among so 
many?” 


$106. Fifth Conference. Parsonages to Be Built. 


On the 2d of April, 1812, the fifth session of the Conference began in 
the house of Martin Dreisbach, Union county, Pa. We find that 12 itiner- 
ant preachers attended, and it was reported that the number of members 
was 761. George Miller was elected chairman and John Dreisbach secre- 
tary. 

Frederick Schauer, Abraham Huth, Michael Deibler and Robert Me- 
Cray were received on trial into the itinerancy. Some of the old circuits 
were divided, and a new one formed in the State of New York. The Asso- 
ciation now had five circuits and one mission. John Erb was ordained 
elder. The stationing resulted as follows: Schuylkill circuit, Henry Nie- 
bel, Abraham Huth; Lancaster circuit, John Erb, Michael Deibler; York 
circuit, Matthew Betz, Michael Becker; Franklin circuit, John Walter, 
David Jerlitz; Northumberland circuit, Leonhart Zimmermann, Frederick 
Schauer; New York circuit, John Dreisbach, Robert McCray. 

Conference resolved that arrangements be made for the building of par- 
sonages on several circuits, which was a progressive step. The instruction 
of youth in Christian doctrine was again ordered. This session concluded 
its business with even a still more solemn declaration than heretofore— 
thus : 

“Our Conference was closed in the name of God, with united approval 
of the aforementioned ordinances, and in token of our willingness, and that 
we have obligated ourselves to obey God, and our order, in accordance with 
the Word of God, we sign our names in the presence of God, and close with 
prayer in faith and confidence to God, who has thus united us in peace and 
love among ourselves, in hope that He who made us willing, will also en- 


1812,] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION, 115 


able us to do according to His good pleasure, through our Lord Jesus 
Christ, Amen ! 

“George Miller, John Walter, John Dreisbach, John Erb, Matthew 
Betz, Henry Niebel, Michael Becker, Leonhart Zimmermann, David Jer- 
litz, Michael Deibler, Abraham Huth, John Buchwalter, Robert McCray, 
Frederick Schauer.” 

During the year 129 new members were received, but the increase was 
only 35. The question, “ Where are the nine? i. e. the 94, remained un- 
answered. The Discipline was very strictly applied in those days, but 
there were not so many expulsions during the year. The good brethren 
were not expert statisticians. 

We may, however, direct attention to the fact that a very serious war 
with England was approaching, which caused great excitement and unrest 
among the people, and doubtless many minds were thereby led away from 
divine things. Some misunderstandings and temptations also crept in 
among several of the preachers, and a few became unfaithful. These things 
had, of course, a more or less detrimental effect. 

“Want of extensive experience on the part of many of its members, 
and also some of its ministers, was an especial cause of many difficulties, 
and of sore trials for the Association in those days ; however, similar things 
we meet with in nearly ail Christian denominations, in their incipient state, 
to a greater or less extent. 

“From a desire to extend and increase the work as speedily as possible, 
all such as showed the least qualifications for the ministry, were urged to 
be obedient to the divine call, and to set out as heralds of the Gospel.— 
Thus it came to pass that frequently young men’ without sufficient experi- 
ence, firmness and fidelity, entered the ministry, and were afterward unable 
_to withstand the many temptations, allurements, inconveniences and dan- 
gers to which an itinerant is exposed, and hence became either discouraged 
or fell away, to the great injury and impediment of the cause. Against 
such difficulties and obstructions the Evangelical Association had to strug- 
gle for a number of years, nor have they entirely disappeared in our days. 
Yet the Association in those years was never guilty of the crime of sparing 
and tolerating in its connection, immoral or faithless preachers. The office of 
the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven was, at all times, faithfully and even 
rigorously exercised; offenders were tried and dealt with, according to 
their deserts, both preachers and laymen.” * 


§ 107. Failure of the Mission in New York. 


Notwithstanding the difficulties and hinderances aforementioned, awak- 
enings and revivals took place on the different fields, and the borders of the 
Church were extended. 





*) Orwig’s History etc., p. 63. 


116 HISTORY OF THE [1812., 


But the mission in the State of New York failed, to a great extent. 
The preachers did not find as many Germans as they had expected in the 
vicinity of Seneca, N. Y., and other circumstances added to the discourage- 
ment of the brethren. They then left the work to Rev. Christian Wolf, a 
local preacher, who continued to labor on with success ; at a later time help 
was sent to him and a circuit was formed.* The returned brethren found 
open doors along both branches of the Susquehanna river, and when in the 
Fall of the year, on account of certain events, changes had to be made on 
the eircuits, they were needed on those fields. There was a change of 
preachers during the year, which gave general satisfaction. 


§ 108. Dreisbach’s Severe Conflict. 


During this year Bro. Dreisbach had to pass through a very severe in- 
ward trial, which almost crushed him. Nervous prostration and depression 
befell him, which drove him to the verge of despair. Of this he gives us 
the following report : 


“I had the most fearful trials and conflicts to endure, which forced me. 


*) This Bro. Wolf, whose name appears frequently in this history, was one of the 
first of those who entertained Mr. Albright and his Co-laborers in the Susquehanna 
Valley. 

When, in 1806, that great revival took place through the labors of George Miller 
(see page 80), it reached also Lewisburg, then called Derrstown, in honor of Lewis 
Derr, who was the founder of the village, which received the name of Lewisburg in 
later years, derived from Mr. Derr's first name, Lewis. A strong class was formed 
there, and Bro. Wolf was made its leader, and soon afterward also local preacher; as 
such he exerted a strong, blessed influence for good. 

Already in A. D. 1805 an emigration was started from the Susquehanna Valley to 
Western New York, to settle upon the so-called “Indian lands,” which had been 
opened there by the Government in 1795 for settlement. Bro. Wolf was also influenced 
by the ‘‘ moving fever” to emigrate to that “ Genesee country,” and removed to Sen- 
eca County, N. Y., in 1807. He was the very first man of the “Albright People’ in 
that State. He brought to his new home the same spirit and earnestness which he 
had manifested in Pennsylvania, and induced a few families to unite with him in the 
work of the Lord. He visited also other settlements, and prepared the way for the 
mission mentioned above (in 1812), to which his nephews, John Dreisbach and Robert 
McCray, were sent. After these brethren had left that field, Bro. Wolf labored on and 
formed.a few classes. When, in A. D, 1816, Jacob Kleinfelter was sent there, and 
John Dreisbach came there again as Presiding Elder, they found the banner of the 
Church planted firmly. The work was established more and more, and also extended 
in other directions. 

Bro. Wolf was not only a pious and influential man, but one who remained “stead- 
fast and immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.” Upon his plain 
tomb-stone may be read the following inscription: 

Curistian WoLF, 
Died June 21st, 1833, 


Aged 54 years, 
2 months and 20 days. 


~~ !lULe lee ee 


—S 


1813.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 117 


almost into the ‘Slough of Despond,’ so that it often seemed that I must 
go down and my feeble craft would sink to the bottom of the sea. My 
harp had become an instrument of lamentation and my song was turned 
into weeping. Yet help came just in the time of my greatest need. 
Blessed be the name of the Lord! After these struggles and trials the 
most glorious victories followed. Our help is in the name of the Lord, 
who made heaven and earth.” 

What caused these trials to be more painful, was the fact, that while 
they depressed him, he became weaker in his preaching, and fell under the 
suspicion of having been captivated by the love of the world, and a very 
rude reprimand was administered to him, by an older preacher, who entirely 
misunderstood his pitiable condition—this made it much the worse. 

It was no wonder, however, that such times of depression came upon 
this untiring laborer. He began his itinerancy in his seventeenth year, when a 
a mere stripling, and underwent the extraordinary hardships and self-denials 
connected with it ; in addition to this he kept many a fasting-day and had 
many sleepless nights. And now, after six years of such over-work, liver 
troubles and nervous disturbances befell him. Jike Paul, who had similar 
experiences, he was compelled to labor on with “weakness, fear and great 
trembling.” But God strengthened and raised up his servant again. 


§ 109, Pressing Forward.—Pioneers. 


The stxth Conference was again held in Buffalo Valley, at the house of 
Father Martin Dreisbach, on April 21-23, 1813. George Miller was again 
chairman and John Dreisbach secretary. Two young preachers were de- 
posed from the ministry and expelled from the Church on account of im- 
moral conduct. John Erb located on account of feeble health. Adam 
Hennig, Abraham Buchmann, John Kleinfelter, Jacob Kleinfelter, John 
Stambach and John Walter, Jr., were received into the ministry on proba- 
tion. David Jerlitz and Leonhart Zimmermann were ordained deacons, 
and Matthew Betz and Henry Niebel elders. The stationing was as 
follows : 

Schuylkill circuit, John Walter, Jacob Kleinfelter, John Walter, Jr.; 
Northumberland and Center circuits, Matthew Betz, Robert McCray, Abraham 
Buchmann, John Stambach; Franklin circuit, Henry Niebel, Michael 
Deibler ; York circuit, Leonhart Zimmermann, Frederick Schauer. John 
Dreisbach, Adam Hennig, David Jerlitz and John Kleinfelter were ordered 
to form new circuits westward from the old ones, or in other words, do 
pioneer missionary work. The number of members now amounted to 
796, with 15 itinerant preachers. 

Conference closed again in the following solemn manner: “The Con- 
ference came to a close in the name of God, with the united approval of the 
above mentioned proceedings ; and as a token of our willingness, and that 


118 HISTORY OF THE [1813.. 


we have obligated ourselves to obey God and our ordinances, we sign our 

-names, in the presence of God, and close with prayer and confidence in 
God, who has thus ‘united us in peace and love among ourselves, in hope 
that He who made us willing, will also give us the power to do according 
to His good pleasure, through our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen. 

“George Miller, John Walter, John Dreisbach, John Erb, Matthew 
Betz, Henry Niebel, David Jerlitz, Leonhart Zimmermann, Michael 
Deibler, Robert McOray, Frederick Schauer, Adam Hennig, Abraham 
Buchmann, John Stambach, John Kleinfelter, Jacob Kleinfelter, John 
Walter, Jr.’’ | 

During the year the work was much revived and extended on the old 
circuits. John Dreisbach and Adam Hennig “broke the ice,” by going across 
the Allegheny mountains into Somerset and the adjacent counties, and as 
they met with the greatest success in Somerset county they called their- 
new field of labor Somerset circuit. They received during the year nearly 
sixty members, and formed three classes in the Glades, Brothers Valley, 
and Conemaugh. In the latter class Jacob Paul was made class-leader, 
and though he was but 15 years old, proved himself to be both manly and 
faithful. 

David Jerlitz and John Kleinfelter chose for their field of labor the 
Counties of Huntingdon and Bedford, east of the Allegheny Mountains, 
where they were gladly received—formed several classes and gathered a 
very considerable number of converted souls, and such as were anxious to 
be saved, during the year. In the following year this new circuit was 
added to the western part of Northumberland circuit and called Bedford ; 
afterward it was named Center circuit. 

John Dreisbach was instructed by Conference to visit, during the year, 
several circuits in the Hastern part of the Conference district, to assist the 
brethren at their general and camp-meetings, as there was as yet no presid- 
ing elder. These meetings were greatly blessed, many souls were con- 
verted and believers edified. 

“In this way,” says Rev. Wm. W. Orwig, “the first Evangelical preach- 
ers had to go to work, in order to extend theirfields of labor. It was not as 
is frequently the case in our days, when members settle in new parts and 
cordially bid their preachers welcome upon their arrival, and provide a good 
home for them. They had to break ground, and often encountered great 
opposition and persecution. The roads in many places were yet new and 
rough, leading over steep mountains and through deep valleys; the dwell- 
ings of the new settlers were small, inconvenient, and often so well aired 
that the wakeful itinerants could see the stars from their couches at night, 
and feel the falling snow, as well as wind and cold. 

“This required self-denial and humility, but was, in many instances, 
also injurious to their health, yet it could not be expected otherwise in this 
work : and if such a spirit of self-denial, enterprise and earnestness, and 


1814.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 119 


such a zeal for the spread of the Kingdom of God, had kept pace with other 
improvements in the Church, how much more rapidly would it spread in 
our days, and how many precious souls could be saved, who, alas, are prob- 
ably lost—and who will be held responsible for it ?”’ * 


$110. Death of Rev. Matthew Betz. 


Aithough the year 1813 was in many respects a blessed and successful 
one, it also had its afflictions. The active and very successful worker, Rev. 
Matthew Betz, was called from Zion’s walls to his home in heaven. His 
disease was pneumonia, which took him away quickly. Although his ser- 
vices were yet greatly needed, and were so greatly blessed, yet he had to bid 
adieu to his brethren and depart. He was a pious, humble and very suc- 
cessful minister. The Lord gave him many spiritual children, among 
whom was the immortal John Seybert, who afterward. became Bishop and 
whom the Church can never forget. He served five years as itinerant 
preacher, and his short career was a continuous succession of victories. He 
died in the house of Bro, Steffey, near Boalsburg, Center county, Pa., and 
his remains rest in the Presbyterian graveyard, near a place then called 
Slab-Cabin-Meetinghouse, This was a heavy stroke and a mysterious prov- 
idence for the brethren. But there came still other losses upon the little 
group of soldiers of the Lord. 

That wonderful hero, John Walter was compelled to retire from the 
work on account of feeble health. Robt. McCray had to be deposed on ac- 
count of unfaithfulness, and John Walter, Jr., traveled but a short time and 
then left his work. Thus the little Conference lost four laborers. But the 
others did not yield to discouragement. They knew that their work was 
the work of God. 


§ 111. John Dreisbach the First Presiding Elder. 


The seventh session of the Conference was held again in the house of 
Father Martin Dreisbach, on April 13-15, 1814. John Dreisbach was 
elected chairman and Henry Niebel secretary. Thomas Brewer, Michael 
Walter and Henry Stauffer were received as ministers on probation. Fred- 
erick Schauer, Abraham Buchmann, Adam Hennig and John Stambach, 
were ordained as deacons, 

The most important transaction of this session was the election of John 
Dreisbach as Presiding Elder. This election was every way most fitting. 
Dreisbach now had considerable experience in the work, and was perhaps 
the only one that had been over the entire Church territory ; he had served 
as junior preacher, as preacher in charge, as pioneer missionary, was well 
established spiritually and doctrinally, was conversant with the English and 
German languages, was gifted with a strong mind and fine administrative 


*) Orwig’s History of the Evangelical Association, pp. 69-70. 


120 HISTORY OF THE [1814, . 


talents, was an excellent preacher, and his tall person and impressive ap- 
pearance commanded respect wherever he went—in short, the work needed 
just such an officer, and he was in all respects fitted for the office. Thus 
the Lord provided for His work. 

Dreisbach was the /first presiding elder in the Evangelical Association, 
and the exigencies of the work made him practically almost a Bishop. 
Though he governed and superintended kindly, yet when it became neces- 
sary he administered discipline very firmly and inflexibly, as his diaries 
frequently indicate. His district was the entire Church territory, extend- 
ing about 300 miles from east to west, and 100 miles wide—to be traveled 
over on horseback four times a year. 

The preachers were stationed at this session as follows: Conference 
district, John Dreisbach, P. E.; Union circuit, Henry Niebel and Jobn 


Kleinfelter ; Bedford circuit, David Jerlitz and Michael Walter; Franklin - 


circuit, Frederick Schauer; York circuit, John Stambach and Thomas 
Brewer; Lancaster circuit, Leonhart Zimmermann and Henry Stauffer ; 
Schuylkill circuit, Adam Hennig; Somerset circuit, Abraaam Buchmann 
and Jacob Kleinfelter. 

The membership amounted to 1016, an increase of 220 during the past 
Conference year. Itinerants 13. 

The Conference closed its session again very solemnly :— 

‘Our Conference closed in the name of God, with the united approval 
of the above named ordinances ; and in token of our willingness, and that 
we have obligated ourselves to obey God and our order, we sign our names 
as in the presence of God, and close with believing prayer and confidence 
in God, who has thus united us in peace and love among ourselves, and 
hope that He who made us willing, will also work in us to do according to 
His good pleasure, through our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen. 

“John Dreisbach, Henry Niebel, George Miller, John Erb, Leonhart 
Zimmermann, David Jerlitz, Frederick Schauer, John Kleinfelter, Adam 
Hennig, Jacob Kleinfelter, John Stambach, Thomas Brewer, Abraham 
Buchmann, Michael Walter, Henry Stauffer.” 


§112. A Year of Blessings. 


The Conference year proved to be one full of blessings. Among 
the preachers peace and fidelity reigned. John Dreisbach writes: “We 
held four camp-meetings, fourteen big meetings, and eight watch-nights, all 
of which I attended, and nearly all of them were crowned with conversions 
and an advance of the children of God in divine life. The camp-meetings 
especially were times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord.” Bro. 
Orwig writes :— 

“At that time the members and ministers were yet in the habit of at- 
tending camp and general meetings from great distances ; and as such 
meetings were as yet something new to most of them, they took a deep in- 


r 





’ 
a 
3 
.. 
4 


1814. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 121 


terest in them, and were generally greatly edified and encouraged. Now, 
as among the crowds that assembled at such meetings, there were also 
. many enemies of the truth and blasphemers of the Holy Spirit, who there 
heard and saw many things that were strange and unintelligible to them ; 
and besides, being filled with the very worst suspicions, even before they 
came: such meetings served not only to make the Society more rapidly 
known, but also to increase the contempt and hatred against it. The ene- 
mies of the cross circulated some of the most abominable lies concerning 
these people; and the further they spread, the more they increased, each 
one, through whose lips they passed, adding his part thereto, as is usual in 
such cases. 


“Thus it happened that persons in some parts of the country, who knew 
these people merely from hearsay, dreaded their coming into their neigh- 
borhood as much as pestilence itself. In these fears they generally were 
confirmed by their pastors, who represented the itinerants as the false 
prophets and deceivers who were to come in the last times, and with ail 
their might warned their congregations against them as the most dangerous 
men. In consequence of this, many well disposed and even religious persons 
had become filled with prejudices against them, who afterward, upon closer 
acquaintance, acknowledged them as God’s people, and subsequently joined 
the Society. 

“As the sermons on such occasions were usually very plain and pointed, 
a great number were generally deeply impressed, many of whom were at 
once made acquainted with their low condition, and turned unto the Lord ; 
and when they went to their homes, deeply wounded in their conscience, 
they found no rest, until they sought it in the blood of Christ. Such glo- 
rious results established the propriety and usefulness of such meetings be- 
yond a doubt, and the friends were thus encouraged to continue them from 
time to time, in spite of the persecutions and disturbances which were gen- 

_eraily in their train.—But we do not deny that imprudent, ignorant or 
hypocritical persons may sometimes have given just cause for censure, by 
their improper conduct during the exercises. And that such offensive conduct, 
which proved very detrimental to the good cause, was too often overlooked, 
partly from fear of hurting the feelings of the innocent, or for want of better 
insight into the great injury arising therefrom, cannot be denied either.— 
But it is strange that religious organizations, as well as individuals, should 
make so much ado about isolated cases of extravagance and hypocrisy, re- 
garding them as certain evidences of the spuriousness of the entire work of 
such as are annoyed and grieved by these unpleasant occurrences ; while 
they themselves have so many proofs of hypocrisy continually staring them 
in the face, of a great majority of their own Church-members, attending 
public worship in all seasons, the year round, with impenitent and worldly 
hearts, others devote themselves openly to the service of the joys of the 


422 HISTORY OF THE [1814. 


world, and sin. Yet so it is; men always see the splinter in their neigh- 
bor’s eyes sooner than the beam in their own.”* 

As these Evangelical preachers became more and more prominent in 
the eye of the public, and developed a powerful influence upon the people 
wherever they labored, it is quite in place to insert here a characteristic de- 
scription of them, by one who was a very competent judge, because of his 
intimate acquaintance with them : 

“The preachers of the Evangelical Association were, in a classical point 
of view, unlearned men. Many of them had perhaps never read any other 
books besides the Bible, when they set out to preach. A few could not 
even read correctly. But these things we do not state here to their praise; 
for they certainly were not the cause of the good effects of their preaching. 
Nor do we wish to be understood as if it were our opinion, that men with 
so limited a knowledge of theology, history and other useful sciences, were 
able to explain the fundamental doctrines and deep passages of the Bible, 
and to defend them against scoffers and infidels, or to labor in every manner 
for the kingdom of God, in which the learned, pious and devoted minister 
can work. But this was not their calling and object. Christianity among 
the people where they lived and labored, needed not so much a thorough 
explanation of its deep and mysterious doctrines, as a revival. To explain 
its theory was less necessary than to enforce its practice. 

“The great desideratum was, to show to the sinner his lost and dangerous 
condition out of Christ, in his uatural state—to convince him that the ob- 
servance of the external duties of Christianity, without regeneration or a 
change of heart, is insufficient for salvation,—to convince him that he must 
come as a condemned sinner, penitently, prayerfully, and believingly, to the 
great friend and Saviour of sinners, in order to be pardoned and adopted 
into the family of God. 

“This simple plan of salvation they had learned by their own experience, 
and could therefore preach it with the joyful assurance of having them- 
selves an interest in Christ, and amid the attending influence and unction of 
the Holy Ghost. And herein lay the secret of the success of their labors. 
Hence the common people, who at that time were still more ignorant than 
they are now, understood their sermons much better than those of well ed- 
ucated preachers. And being able, plainly and impressively to explain to 
the sinner the way of obtaining peace with God, as they had themselves ex- 
perienced it ; so they understood also, successfully, to explain to, and in- 
culcate on, believers the doctrines of Christ and his apostles, with reference 
to watching and praying, self-denial, growing in grace and the knowledge 
of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, perfecting holiness in the fear of God; 
the practice of love to God and our fellow-men, perseverance in hope, faith 
and charity, as well as that with regard to future rewards and punish- 





*) Orwig’s History, etc., pp. 72, 78. 


ns 


1814, | EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 123 


ments. And was not this the method of the apostles and their successors 
everywhere, except then and there where circumstances required more ? 
And where this was the case, the more experienced and talented among 
our preachers were, by the grace of God, soon qualified for this also. 

“By preaching almost daily, many of the ministers made rapid progress 
in qualifying themselves for a proper discharge of the duties of their call- 
ing ; and those who persevered in reading and searching, as well as in daily 
prayer, were soon able to compete, in this respect, with most of the educat- 
ed preachers of those days. And as to spirit, power, life, and effect, they 
were, on the whole, by far their superiors: hence the glorious results of 
their labors.”* 


§ 113. Old Evangelical Camp-meetings. 


After the foregoing statements concerning the Evangelical Association 
it may be very acceptable to learn more in detail, how they conducted their 
camp-meetings under the management of the presiding elder, John Dreis- 
bach. He gives us the following memoranda in his diary of a camp-meet- 
ing which was held near Adam Kttinger’s, in York County, Pa., beginning 
June Ist, 1814. He says: 


“Qn the 1st of June the friends} assembled, and Bro. Schauer preached 
in the evening, on the words: ‘Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you 
like men, be strong,’ (1 Cor. 16.13). Bro. Niebel exhorted and closed with 
prayer. Though I felt weak in body, I had great concern for the meeting, — 
and had faith to believe that souls would be converted and believers sanc- 
tified. 

“Henry Niebel, John Erb, John Kleinfelter, Leonhart Zimmermann, 
Henry Stauffer, Thomas Brewer, Frederick Schauer, John Stambach and 
myself were the preachers—9 in all. 


“June 2d. To-day I preached from the passage: ‘Seeing ye have puri- 
fied your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit, ’ etc., (1 Peter 1. 22). 
I had great grace and felt much concerned for the unconverted. Some 
dropped down like dead persons. The friends were deeply convinced of 
their need of sanctification. In the afternoon Bro. Erb. preached on the 
address of Paul and the alarm of Felix. After the sermon I exhorted pen- 
itents now to look to Jesus by faith, and told the friends that they should 
believe unto sanctification, and requested all who were willing to do so to 
raise their hands, after which we engaged in prayer. There was a special 
degree of the sanctifying power of God among us. Many, according to 
their testimony, received the grace of sanctification. I do not know that 


*) Orwig’s History, etc., pp. 75. 76. 

+) This pleasant word “ friends” was then current among the Evangelicals as mean- 
ing the members of the Church, and such as affiliated with them in prayer and cross- 
bearing. 9 


124 AIS TORY) OFS ITE [1814. 


I ever felt the power of God stronger in me than I did to-day, while preach- 
ing on the subject of Holiness, My body and soul were quickened, and | 
realized myself what I preached to others. God be praised for it. 
This meeting was richly blessed with the experience of conversion and 
sanctification. 


“On the 3d of June, Bro. Stambach preached in the forenoon on the 
words: ‘I am the light of the world.’ Bro. Stauffer and I exhorted. 
At 1 o’clock I held a blessed Quarterly Conference. In the afternoon Bro: 
Zimmerman preached, Bro. Erb exhorted, and I closed with prayer. In 
the evening Bro. Kleinfelter preached on the words: ‘ For to be carnally- 
minded is death,’ (Rom. 8. 6.) and an African preached on Romans 5, 1. 
To-day the power of God was in the camp—three souls were converted, 
and there was a wonderful blessing among the people of God. Blessed 
be God ! 


“June 4. This morning we held sacramental services, and although it 
rained so heavily that we all became wet, we had a greatly blessed time. In 
the afternoon Bro. Niebel preached on Ephesians 5. 1, with good effect. 
After him I preached on John 13. 35. We had convicting power, and at 
the close of the meeting a person fell to the ground and cried for mercy. 
Her parents tried to drag her away, but the friends would not permit this. 
The unconverted bystanders were ready to give blows. I then went to the 
person and asked her whether she wished to go with her parents—she said, 
‘No, I must have forgiveness,’ and, praise the Lord, she found it, too. In 
the evening Bro. Erb was to preach, but there came a fearful thunder- 
storm ; after prayer I ordered the friends to retire to their tents. To-day 
5 or 6 souls found salvation. I went to bed and rested sweetly in the arms 
of Jesus, 


“Sunday, June 5th. T preached at 9 o’clock in the morning on Luke 
19. 41, 42, and the word had its blessed effect. The people seemed to be 
captivated by the power of the word. Bro. Erb exhorted with great power 
and effect. Bro, Niebel preached at 3 o’clock in the afternoon on Matth. 3. 
7-10, ‘O generation of vipers,’ etc., etc., with good effect. I followed him 
in English on Psalm, 50. 14, 15, and had great freedom and grace. Several 
souls were saved to-day. There was shouting in the camp of the King. 
Blessed be God for this victory. In the evening Bro. Zimmermann preached 
on the words: ‘And now, children, abide in him,’ (1 John 2. 28.) This 
sermon was a good one. At the close came a great thunderstorm—but 
amidst the roaring of thunder the friends were greatly blessed. 


“On the 6th of June I delivered an exhortation in the morning, and 
called up those who were converted during the meeting—they numbered 
14. Besides, several backsliders were reclaimed, and I believe some of the 
friends received sanctification. It rained very hard this morning, which 


=- 


PE eS ae Se = 


: 





1814. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 125 


hindered us in the farewell-taking, but the divine blessing was upon us so 
mightily that we left the camp-ground shouting the praises of God.” 

This was an “ old-evangelical” camp-meeting. There was great con- 
cern and fervent prayer for the salvation of souls. The word of God was 
preached with power and without respect of persons—sinners were con- 
verted, believers sanctified, and the praises of God sounded through the 
beautiful forest. 

At a camp-meeting held on the land of Daniel Bertolet, on the 31st of 
August, Bro. Dreisbach preached from 1 Tim. 6.12. He says, “I had great 
grace to preach both the law and the Gospel to believers and unbelievers. 
It had a powerful effect unto the sanctification of many.” At this meeting 
a backslidden minister was reclaimed, and a number of sinners were con- 
verted. Concerning an experience meeting held during the meeting, Dreis- 
bach says: “To my recollection I have never heard more sound testimonies 
of sanctification than at this meeting. Many also felt the need of it very 
deeply.” 

At another camp-meeting the preachers first held a consultation how 
to conduct the meeting with a view of attaining the best results. At this 
meeting Dreisbach preached, of which he says: “God blessed me richly. 
While preaching regeneration and sanctification through faith, converting 
and sanctifying : power came upon us and penetrated soul and body. 
Praise the Lord! I believe that many of the friends were renewed and 
strengthened in holiness.” John Walter and others also preached very 
successfully at this meeting. The results were “fourteen conversions, and 
twenty-eight professed sanctification.” 

Of still another camp-meeting he writes: “God be praised for his bless- 
ing and grace! Twenty-four souls were converted, and sixteen professed 
sanctification.” 

He also writes concerning another camp-meeting, that the meeting was 
such a burden on his heart that he went about “bowed down,” like David, 
but then he cast all his cares upon God, and soon after a great outpouring 
of divine power followed. 

‘At these meetings the old brethren preached repentance, faith, justifi- 
cation, regeneration and sanctification with great positiveness and force, 
At times they also made use of decisive measures, for instance, seekers for 
entire sanctification were called forward to pray specially for this grace, 
and were sometimes requested to manifest their decision and faithin Christ 
for sanctification by raising their right hands, which was frequently fol- 
lowed by mighty out-pourings of divine power. However these things were 
not practiced inthe sense of stereotyped measures ; other methods were 
also employed, adapted to time ‘and circumstances and other conditions. 
To employ special measures under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and 
sanctified reason and expediency—for sinners and Christians—is also an 
old- Evangelical land-mark., 


126 HISTORY OF THE [1815. 


§ 114. Eighth Conference Session.—More Victories. 


The eighth Conference met on the 4th of April, 1815, in the house of 
Jacob Kleinfelter, in York County, Pennsylvania. Henry Niebel was elected 
chairman, and he appointed John Kleinfelter secretary. David Thomas, 
Jacob Brewer and John Dehoff were received into the ministry on pro- 
bation, and John Kleinfelter, Jacob Kleinfelter and Thomas Brewer were 
ordained as deacons. David Jerlitz located. 


The conference district was divided into two presiding elder districts, 
and Henry Niebel was elected as the second presiding elder, The districts 
were named respectively, Canaan and Salem—a biblical instead of geo- 
graphical nomenclature. But experience taught them soon afterward that 
such names were geographically very inconvenient, and they dropped them. 

The fifteen itinerants present were stationed as follows: 


Canaan District, John Dreisbach, P. E.; Franklin circuit, Thomas 


Brewer, John Dehoff; York circuit, Abraham Buchman, David’ Thomas; 
Lancaster circuit, John Kleinfelter; Schuylkill circuit, Leonhart Zimmer- 
mann; Salem District, Henry Niebel, P. E.; Union circuit, John Stambach, 
Jacob Kleinfelter ; Bedford and Center circuits, Frederick Schauer, Henry 
Stauffer ; Somerset circuit, Adam Hennig, Michael Walter. 


The membership amounted to 1108, an increase of 92 during the past 
Conference year. The time of the Conference session was now transferred 
from April to June, whereby the next Conference year was lengthened to 
14 months, and after that, Conference met for many years in the beginning 
of the month of June. 

The record describes the solemn conclusion of Conference as follows : 

“Conference was closed in the name of God, with the united approval 
of the above described transactions, and as a token of willingness, and that 
we have obligated ourselves to obey God and our order, we sign our names 
in the presence of God, and close with prayer in faith and confidence to 
God, who thus has united us in peace and love among ourselves, in hope 
that He who worked in us to will, also will give us the power to do ac- 
cording to his good pleasure, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. 


“Henry Niebel, John Kleinfelter, John Dreisbach, Leonhart Zimmer- 
mann, David Jerlitz, Adam Hennig, Frederick Schauer, John Stambach, 
Jacob Kleinfelter, Thomas Brewer, Michael Walter, Henry Stauffer, Abra- 
ham Buchmann, Jacob Brewer, John Dehoff, David Thomas.” 


The members of the Annual Conference continued, in the future, thus 
to sign their proceedings, in accordance with the Conference rule adopted 
in 1810, which has also been the uniform practice of all the subsequent 
different Annual Conferences, and was also in course of time formally in- 
troduced into the Discipline as a law, in the order of procedure for General 


Conference. We will, however, omit this in the future, and instead, incor- 


porate only the signing of the proceedings of the General Conference. 


1815.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 127 


This was one of the most blessed years of those times. All the cir- 
_ cuits, with the exception of Schuylkill, had extended their bounds, and in- 
creased considerable in membership. 


The six camp-meetings that were held during that year, had generally 
been crowned with glorious success, The word had been gladly received 
in many houses and regions, and many hearts had experienced its happy 
influence. At some of these meetings, especially that in York County, on 
the land of John Seitz, and another near Manheim, Lancaster County, Pa., 
on the land of John Seybert, the brethren encountered great opposition and 
disturbance by mobs, At the first, an occurrence took place which deserves 
to be mentioned here. A very daring scoffer, on the upper end of the tent 
ground, was struck to the ground by the power of God, where he lay help- 
less and in abject terror, surrounded by his comrades, who also were as if 
seized by the terrors of the Lord. Nearly all who saw him, recognized in 
his visitation the finger of God.— Another wicked man, overcome by anger, 
commenced to bellow like an ox during the sermon, and hurried out of the 
meeting like a madman.—The word had similar effects, when preached by 
Jesus himself: some were moved and drawn by it, but others became full 
of wrath, so that they gnashed with their teeth, foamed with anger, and 
would have destroyed everything, had it been in their power. During the 
meeting near Manheim, one Sunday night, a great disturbance was made. 
There came a mob of about 40 persons, who were armed with clubs, their 
shirt-sleeves rolled up, and ready for the attack, threatening to break up 
and scatter the meeting; in which, however, they were disappointed, 
although they made some disturbance. At one time, as is believed, they 
were put to flight by the united prayers of the children of God, and the 
next time they were put down by taking prisoner and securiug one of their 
leaders. One of the camp-meetings held during this year, which was under 
Henry Niebel’s superintendence, in Somerset County, Pa., is said to have 
been remarkably blessed and victorious, Another was held in Buffalo Val- 
ley, Union County, Pa., on the land of Martin Dreisbach, which was also 
greatly blessed, and another near Jonestown, Lebanon County, Pa., on the 
land of Father Faber, where likewise the arm of the Lord was revealed. 
“Here,” says Bro. Dreisbach, ‘‘our dear Brother Walter preached once more 
for us, from 1 Tim. 2, 8, to the great edification of the members.” At this 
meeting he exclaimed publicly, “ We shall take this country, and the 
work of conversion will be extended to Europe yet.” 


The big meetings and watch-nights had also been richly blessed during 
this year. The former generally began on Saturday at1 or 2 0’clock, P. M., 
and were continued over Sunday. On Sunday, after the morning services, 
the Lord’s supper was administered. At camp-meetings this was generally 
done on Friday morning, followed by an experience meeting, in which the 
children of God related their experience before all the congregation, where- 


128 AISTORY.-OF THE [1815. 


by the membership was greatly edified and encouraged, and even unawak- 
ened souls were often deeply impressed. 


§ 115. Dreisbach’s Visits to Philadelphia. 
During this year (1815), Bro. Dreisbach visited Philadelphia several 


times. The first visit occurred in the month of May. On Sunday, the 7th 


of May, he preached in a Freemason hall in the fourth house from Poplar 
street, on North 2d street, and also in the house of George Fischer. On his 


second visit, in November, he preached in the Commissioner’s room, on 3rd 


street.—It is remarkable that he preached his first sermon very near the 
spot where in after years a great Kvangelical congregation was gathered 
which built the first Church of the Evangelical Association in Philadelphia. 


§ 116. Happy Death of George Miller.—Characteristics. 


A very painful event took place during this Conference year, 
namely, the decease of George Miller, on the 5th day of April, 1816. Thus 
death broke again into the ranks of the small ministerial army and took off 
one of their leading captains, who, as we have seen, was a powerful 
preacher, an energetic and talented leader, and, to some extent, a useful 
writer, and thus, under God, a main pillar of the little Church. 

Since he had that remarkable dream on Christmas night, 1808, and 
had to leave his circuit thereafter on account of sickness, he never rallied 
sufficiently to take a regular charge. Conference each year requested him 
to labor in assisting the brethren as much as he could, which he faithfully 
did, but often broke down again and passed through severe attacks of sicke 
ness; in the month of December, 1818, he was confined to his bed by con- 
sumption. For more than three months he suffered severe pain, but at the 
same time enjoyed the consolations of the Lord, and saw his redemption 
approaching, full of the assurance that Christ was his life, and to die would 
be his gain. Three days before his departure he was attacked by severe 
pains, and on the fifth day of April, 1816, came his release. His last words 
were: “I know that I shall be saved.” His remains were buried at New 
Berlin, Pa. Bro. Henry Niebel preached the funeral sermon from Rev. 3, 
10: “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee 
from the hour of temptation which shall come upon all the world, to try 
them that dwell upon the earth.” This faithful servant of the Lord was 
only 42 years and nearly 2 months old, and hence departed when he was in 
his best years, and entered into the rest and joy of his Lord after having been 
in the ministry about 10 years. 

Mr. Miller was a systematic and a very powerful preacher. He 
attacked the sins that prevailed among the people with the “sword of the 
Spirit,” nor did he spare the “evils cleaving to Christians,” in the least. 
Out of his mouth the word of God came like a two-edged sword. But he 
could also comfort the people of God. His manner of preaching was both 


ss 


Ce 


1815.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 129 


animated and instructive, he could both “shine and thunder.” He often 
selected his texts upon his knees, with the open Bible before him, and then 
studied them with much meditation and prayer. He divided the subject 
systematically, and endeavored to present the truths contained therein in a 
clear and impressive manner. Not seldom was it the case that his spirit 
was led so deeply into the truth that he himself was overcome by it, and 
became so overwhelmed by the power of God, that he stopped in the midst 
of his sermon to praise God with such power that all present were affected 
by it. Very often he preached with such victorious faith that many of his 
hearers—even scorners and persecutors—dropped to the floor like dead 
men, and when again restored, they called upon God for the forgiveness of 
their sins. The doctrine of entire sanctification he proclaimed with especial 
clearness and power, and has in this respect—as the fathers who heard him, 
declare—never been excelled in the Evangelical Association. 

Miller’s literary labors, from 1809 till 1815, were by no means insignifi- 
cant ; to the Evangelical Association they were of great value. His style 
was, of course, not ornate, but severely plain. Yet his writings were pithy, 
theologically correct, and adapted to actual wants, and hence also truly 
practical. | 

The first edition of the Discipline was, for him, a very great work, 
which often caused him to pray earnestly and perseveringly for wisdom from 
above, but he completed it, and it became a great blessing to the work, as 
we have seen on the foregoing pages.* At the Conference in 1809 the 
brethren had no business rules, and became parliamentarily entangled in 
their transactions, whereupon Miller compiled a set of rules for business, 
which proved so useful, that he says: “ From this time on our Conferences 
became like unto the ante-chamber of heaven, in which all were benefited.” 

Several Conferences in succession requested Miller, “to write something 
useful for the Association.” He prepared a brief biography of Albright, 
which was ordered printed by Conference in 1810. After this he wrote an 
excellent little practical volume, called : “Practical Christianity,” which was 
ordered printed by Conference in 1812. Miller was also requested by this 
Conference to “compile an Episcopal Plan of Government,” which involved 
a considerable enlargement of the Discipline, relative to Church govern- 
ment, henceforth he labored at this work. In the year 1813 he promised 
Conference “to finish the addition to our Discipline, if God would grant 
grace.” The second edition of the Discipline (1817), was chiefly his work, 
and contains the “ Episcopal Plan of Government,” which he wrought out. 
He had, at that time, already begun the improvement and enlargement of 
the Discipline, and labored upon it until-he was prostrated upon his death. 
bed. In 1815, after an attack of sickness, he resolved to write his autobio- 
graphy, and completed it substantially, as we have it now, in “Albright and 
his Co-laborers.” This also proved a great blessing. 


*) See 2 96, p. 101. 


130 FAIS L ORY NORTEL Le [1816. 


In consideration of these facts, it is evident that George Miller was the 
first literary author in the Evangelical Association, to a greater extent than 
has been generally known. ‘Honor to whom honor is due.” 


From an old document, which was added to his biography, we glean 
the following : 

“ Miller’s great power of discernment, discretion, fearlessness, and his 
other abilities to build up the Church and spread the Gospel, cannot ade- 
quately be described. In faith, he was heroic, for his confidence in God’s 
help was great. In the hottest persecution he did not let his courage sink, 
nor did he spare himself if suffering was at hand. When the heat of perse- 
cution was the greatest, he could infuse courage into his brethren. 
Neither allurements nor threatenings could move him from carrying out the 
Lord’s commands. In the struggle against the enemies of the Kingdom of 
Christ, he constantly took the lead. 

“ He was very useful to his brethren in the Gospel, and was beloved and 
highly respected as a father among them. He conducted himself as a true 
shepherd towards the members of the Association, and led them in counsel 
and action, After Albright’s early departure, these facts were especially 
realized.—To sincere Christians he was a precious gift of God, and he 
was received by them almost as an angel, but to luke-warm professors, he 
was a pungent salt, for he reproved their hypocrisy very sharply, hence he 
was hated by them as well as by the world. At‘ big meetings’ he was es- 
pecially diligent to elucidate and inculcate the necessity of growth in grace 
and advancement in divine life, and to encourage believers to seek the sanc- 
tification of their souls. But his chief aim was properly to instruct his min- 
isterial brethren, since he well knew that the building up of the Church was 
dependent upon wholesome and pure doctrines, In this matter he was pro- 
foundly experienced, and also possessed of a special gift to speak and preach 
with a view to such indoctrination. 

“Jn the maintaining and execution of discipline he proved himself stead- 
fast, and was no respecter of persons. Before his departure he had the 
pleasure of seeing the Hvangelical Association advance and increase under 
the regulations which had been adopted; and that God awakened and 
qualified with His Spirit’s power young men, to prosecute His work and 
extend its borders.” * 





*) The personal description of George Miller, by those who knew him, is as follows: 
“He was nearly six feet high, and quite strongly built. His face was oblong, his fore- 
head high and full, had dark eyes, quite a large nose, prominent cheek-bones, black 
hair, red eyebrows, rough skin and large hands. He shaved his whole face, wore 
coarse, home-made clothes, yet dressed in a neat and tidy manner. In his conversa: 
tion he was considerate, and always spoke to the point, mostly in a gentle manner, 
but when he considered it necessary, also very decidedly and pungently.”’ 


ea 


1816.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 131 


§ 117. Why So Early? 


This question has often been asked, “Why did Albright, Betz, Miller 
and others die so early, while in their best years, and when the work still 
needed them so much?” and some have answered: “The Lord has done it, 
He moves in mysterious ways.” Yes, certainly, “God moves in a myster- 
ious way, His wonders to perform,” but any one who has some knowledge 
of the circumstances of the work at that time, the severe labors and hard- 
ships these men had to undergo, the many unavoidable transgressions of 
the laws of health they committed, and their “zeal for the house of Goa, 
which would almost eat them up,” besides their severe treatment of them- 
selves by fasting nearly every Friday, preaching daily in small, unventilated 
rooms, ofttimes for two-three hours, traveling in all sorts of extreme 
weather, and living in a constant tension, carrying the “burden of the Lord”’ 
concerning precious souls and the progress of the work on their hearts— 
will see ample cause for their early death, and may wonder that these 
self-sacrificing men did not all of them die an earlier death. While they as 
“burning and shining lights” showed the way of life to others, they were 
themselves consumed, 


§118. Concluding Remarks to this Period. 


A retrospective glance over this period reveals prominently several 
men, such as Albright, Walter, Miller, Dreisbach, Betz, Niebel, Erb and 
others, all American born Pennsylvania Germans, who were soundly con- 
verted to God, then divinely called to the Gospel ministry and thrust into 
the field which had been neglected, and had become a moral wilder- 
ness. They were wholly without academic training—John Walter could 
not even read well when he began to preach; without libraries, excepting 
the Bible; but with Hymn-book, Catechism and Discipline, a few had, 
perhaps, Thomas A. Kempis’ Imitation of Christ, Bunyan, Tersteegen, 
John Arndt, and those who read English had a few Methodistic works— 
these men went forth. They also greatly lacked financial support, they had 
no rich congregations nor Church lands ; almost without salary, frequently 
a scant thirty dollars per annum; they were clad in home-spun, ofttimes 
mended clothes, sometimes lacking the necessary food, and oftener still, a 
roof to sleep under. They often had to sleep under the canopy oi 
heaven with the saddle for a pillow, or frequently, when in a primitive 
house or hut, rain made them uncomfortable, or the snow covered their beds 
during the night. Bad roads made their traveling difficult and dangerous ; 
they had to swim across streams, incurring imminent danger of losing their 
lives. Their studio was on the saddle, and their studies were pursued on 
horseback—many read their books through while giving the reins to the 
trusty horse. Their prayer-closet was mostly in the woods, where they 
prayed and wept before the Lord, that He might bless their labors with con- 


132 HISTORY. OF THE [1816. 


versions of sinners and the sanctification of believers. And God heard 
their prayers. For them there were not waiting soft pillows, fat stations, 
places of honor, or luxurious parsonages. 


Although not scholarly homilists, they nearly always had their texts 
so well digested that they indeed “rightly divided the word,” bringing to 
light the cardinal truths contained therein, and they preached to their fre- 
quently large congregations in such demonstration of the Holy Spirit and 
of power (sometimes for 2 or even 3 hours), that the hearts of sinners 
were pierced as with a sword, and many fell down as though shot, and be- 
gan to cry out for mercy, whilst others asked with tears, what must we do to 
be saved? These men attacked sin of all shades and kinds; they did not 
spare in the least, “false religion” and “false worship,” and overturned 
every edifice that was not built upon the rock Jesus Christ, ever pointing 
inquiring sinners to the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sins of the 
world. 


A persecution broke out against them, so indescribably bitter that 
it would have resulted in martyrdom, had not divine providence and civil 
law protected them. But this persecution had an effect like that of pouring 
oil upon fire, and victories followed in succession. 


At the end of a Conference year, still holding high the banner of the 
cross, they could then triumphantly sing : 


“ At this sign of triumph 

Satan’s host doth flee, 

On then, Christian Soldiers, 
On to victory :— 

Hell’s foundations quiver 
At the shout of praise, 

Brothers, lift your voices ; 
Loud your anthems raise.” 


Like “burning and shining lights,” yea, like flaming torches, they trav- 
eled through eastern Pennsylvania, and blowing the Gospel trumpet, they 
chased away the night-birds of sin and the darkness of error, kindling the 
light of heavenly truth in many hearts and regions, which did then shine, 
despite all opposition, with blessed effect into the spiritually benighted 
and deteriorated Churches, But so far, these laborers could scarcely pay 
any attention to the upbuilding of a denomination ; they were the pioneer- 
workers—the quarrymen, the foundation-diggers, carpenters, etc., who pro- 
cured the raw material, and by organizing a Conference, adopting a Discip- 
line, small hymn-book, etc., put up a temporary work-shop, but had not even 
progressed sufficiently to settle upon a permanent name for their Association. 
This period was, in the full sense of the word, the time of pioneering for 
this Association. 


1816. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 133 


And who should not praise God for raising up such men? Although 
the work of our day is in many respects of a different and easier nature, 
who would not pray for a full measure of their spirit of prayer, zeal, Bible- 
study, manliness, heroism, and entire devotion to God? We honor their 
memory, and we will take as a pattern their devotion to soul-saving work, 
and their spirit of sacrifice for God’s cause. 


134 ALIS LORY MOL VILLE. [1816. 


THIRD PERIOD. 


1816—18555. 


LAYING A PERMANENT DENOMINATIONAL FOUNDATION 
AND CONTINUATION OF PIONEER WORK. 


We shall presently see how the development of the course of events 
tended toward establishing a permanent foundation for this branch of the 
Church of Christ, and how those unassuming men of God, being led by the 
Holy Spirit, began to rear an ecclesiastical temple for the Lord. 


§ 119. Important Conference Session. 


The ninth Conference session was held in the house of Father Abraham 
Hyer, in Dry Valley, Union County, Pa., June 11-13,1816. John Dreis- 
bach was elected Chairman, and Henry Niebel appointed Secretary. 

The following brethren were received, on probation, into the itinerancy: 
John Frueh, Philip Schmidt, Moses Dehoff, Adam Ettinger, John Schilling, 
Benjamin Ettinger, John Rickel, Frederick Kaltreiter, Andrew Wolf. The 
following were ordained Deacons: David Thomas, Michael Walter, John 
Deboff, Solomon Miller; and elders: Frederick Schauer, Leonhart Zimmer. 
mann. Located, Abraham Buchman, Thomas Brewer, Henry Stauffer, on 
accouut of failing health, 

The stationing resulted as follows: 

Canaan District, John Dreisbach, P. E.; Franklin circuit, Jacob Brewer: 
Frederick Kaltreiter ; York circuit, Leonhart Zimmerman, Adam Ettinger ; 
Lancaster circuit, David Thomas; Schuylkill circuit, John Frueh, Benja- 
min Ettinger; Lake Mission, Jacob Kleinfelter, 

Salem District, Henry Niebel, P. E.; Union circuit, John Kleinfelter, 
Moses Dehoff; Columbia circuit, Philip Schmidt; Center circuit, John 
Stambach ; Bedford circuit, John Dehoff, John Schilling ; Somerset circuit, 
Michael Walter, John Rickel; Canton Mission, Adam Hennig; Scioto Mis- 
sion, Frederick Schauer. 

The statistical report showed the number of members to be 1401, an 
increase of 293. Three new c:rcuits or missions were established, and sev- 
eral of the old ones divided. The increase of preachers enabled the station- 
ing committee to supply all the fields of labor with preachers, but alas! 
they did not all continue to the end of the year. 


1816.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 135 


The following are some of the important transactions of this Confer- 
ence :— 

1. That the presiding elders shall visit the new missions during the 
year, namely in the States of Ohio and New York. 

2, That the preacher's salary shall be 56 dollars, and reasonable trav- 
eling expenses, in case there is so much money on hand. 

3. That the local preachers shall, after a trial of six years, and upon 
the recommendation of 12 itinerant ministers, be entitled to receive the or- 
dination as deacons. 

4, That John Dreisbach and Henry Niebel shall, during the Conference 
year get preacher’s licenses printed, for the use of Conference. 

5. That John Dreisbach and Henry Niebel shall make a suitable col- 
lection of hymns for the Association, and improve the present Discipline of 
the Church. 

6. That the first General Conference of the Association shall take 
place in October next. 


§ 120. A Book Commission and General Conference Delegates. 


John Dreisbach visiting the City of Philadelphia several times had 
bought the necessary materials for starting the printing business for the 
Church, and a small publishing house having been acquired in New Berlin, 
Pa., this Conference elected a Book Commission to superintend, in a manner, 
this business, and report concerning it to the Conference. This commis- 
sion consisted of the following brethren: John Dreisbach, Henry Niebel, 
Solomon Miller, Adam Ettinger, Daniel Bertolet, Philip Breidenstein and 
Christopher Spangler. 

The following brethren were elected as delegates to the first General 
Conference: John Dreisbach, Henry Niebel, John Walter, Leonhart Zim- 
mermann, John Erb, John Stambach, John Kleinfelter, Solomon Muller, 
John Dehoff, David Thomas, Adam Ettinger and John Frueh—12. Thus 
it was that the first General Conference of the Evangelical Association was 
a delegated one. 


§ 121. A Very Important Conference Session. 


This Conference made an epoch in the history of the Church, and was 
on the whole a very important and successful session. At that time the 
Annual Conference, it being the original Conference, could transact any 
necessary business, nor did the Discipline then place any restrictions upon it. 
Thus this original Conference was at the same time also the General Confer- 
ence, or in other words, it embodied the General Conference in principle.* 





*) It also embodied the Quarterly Conference until a Presiding Elder was elected 
(1813), who then held Quarterly Conferences and Quarterly meetings, in the proper 
sense of the word. 


136 HISTORY OF THE [1816. 


But the work was enlarging, its wants increasing, and, whereas a number 
of young men were becoming members of the Annual Conference, the 
brethren felt that the time had arrived for holding a General Conference, 
to which they elected their older and experienced men, a body intended to 
_ transact the more important Zegis/ative and general business for the Church. 
This was an exceedingly wise arrangement, as subsequent history has 
abundantly shown. 


§ 122. Enlargement of the Borders. 


Although discipline was strictly enforced, among preachers and mem- 
bers, unconverted persons were not received, backsliders were expelled and 
many partially-enlightened people would not join these “strict and exclusive 
Albright-people,” as the saying went, but rather adhered to those “Liberty- 
people,” who at that time mainly opposed discipline—yet the borders were 
enlarged, especially on the new circuits or missions in Ohio and New York 
States.-—On Lake Mission in the latter State many conversions took place 
and several new classes were formed, so that the mission numbered 42 
members at the close of the Conference year. The presiding elder, John 
Dreisbach, visited the work during the year and labored with blessed suc- 
cess. On Christmas a meeting was held at Father Jacob Riegel’s, which 
was richly blessed. The chief place was Fayette, Seneca county, and from 
there the work spread until a presiding elder district could be formed. 
Several times before it had seemed as though this work would come to 
naught, but finally it obtained a solid footing. That faithful local preacher, 
Christian Wolf, did excellent service and was, during a number of years, 
the main pillar of the work. After Dreisbach had visited this mission 
field he continued his journey into Canada, where he preached at Jacob- 
Miller's, 6 miles beyond Niagara Falls, and also at the homes of his rela- 
tives, Jacob Buck and John Buck, near Burlington. On the American side 
he also preached in the vicinity of Jacob Schopp and P. Bluecher, near 
Buffalo, and also at Chr. Thomas’. But the Germans were not very num- 
erous in those parts at that time. 


§ 123. The Beginning in Ohio. 


The above-mentioned Conference established two new circuits, or mis- 
‘ons—as they would now be called—in Ohio, namely, Scioto Mission and 
Uanton Mission. Frederick Schauer was stationed on Scioto, but he proved 
anfaithful to the Church and joined another denomination during the year. 
Adam Hennig was sent to Canton Mission and had great success. Although 
the country was mostly new, and the settlers lived in log-cabins, poorly ar- 
ranged for entertaining itinerants, Bro. Hennig found many open doors and, 
in a short time, formed a circuit of 32 appointments. In a letter written to 
Rev. William W. Orwig, in later years, he says: “ When I arrived at my 
new field of labor, four miles west of New Philadelphia, I met with a fam- 


1816.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 137 


ily of our dear friends, that had just arrived the day before; oh, how they 
rejoiced that their preachers had followed them to that wilderness. They 
immediately made arrangements for preaching at’ a neighbor’s house, and 
that evening I had a log-house full of hearers from various denominations, 
who were greatly pleased to have German preaching, and requested me to 
continue it. My text was 1 Peter 4, 8, and the word seemed to be well re- 
ceived.’ The country (or forest) was but sparsely settled, many Germans 
had but recently entered the dense, aboriginal forest, and had neither stable 
nor feed for the itinerant’s horse, so Bro. Hennig attached a bell to his 
faithful creature and turned him loose in the woods to help himself as best 
he could. By the sound of the bell Bro. Hennig could find the horse again 
in the morning. “The roads,” he continues, “were in some places very bad. 
I frequently met with dangerous swamps and deep, bridge-less rivers, across 
which [ had to swim my horse at the risk of life. Some of the inhabitants 
were as rough and wild as the country—yet I also met with such as had a 
disposition to hear the Gospel preached in the German language.” 

A large portion of this new circuit was situated in Stark county, about 
the town of Canton, hence it was called Canton Circuit, but it extended 
also over the counties Tuscarawas, Wayne and Richland, and was about 
400 miles in circumference. Bro. Hennig often preached two or three 
times a day, and completed his round on this large circuit in about 4 weeks. 
But as soon as sinners became awakened and converted to God, opposition 
and persecution arose. The work was decried as being fanaticism, and the 
people were warned against deception. 

Toward the Fall of the year (1816) the presiding elder, Henry Niebel, 
visited this field of labor and brought with him an assistant, John Schilling. 
These two brethren labored during the Winter with great success, formed 
several classes, and brought a favorable report of the new field to the next 
Conference. Already the membership amounted to 55. 


§ 124. Emigration to Ohio.—Divine Punishment. 


About this time there was a strong emigration from eastern Pennsyl- 
vania into Ohio, which was then the famous “West.” Quite a number of 
Evangelical members removed along with this emigration, and settled on 
the rich soil in the grand forests of Ohio. After the Evangelical preachers 
had begun their labors and revivals took place, there was such favorable 
progress that a presiding elder district could be formed. In later years it 
became the “ Western Conference.” 

Among the first families who received the itinerant preachers and 
united with the Church in Ohio, were the following: M. Reidinger, P. 
Strayer, A. Schilling, P. Oberlin, A. Rausch, C. Dillmann, D. Williams, P. 
Stroh, J. Schwartz, D. Hennig—some of whom had been members before 
_ they emigrated. 


138 HISTORY OF THE [1816. 


A remarkable instance of the primitive justice of God took place dur- 
ing the year, near the village of Dover, York County, Pennsylvania. The 
friends there had for a considerable time been disturbed in their religious 
services, and grossly insulted with slanders and calumnies by a gang of sons 
of Belial, headed by a certain ruffian named Sharp. Once, when the 
brethren were engaged in worship, this gang went so far in their impiety as 
to hold a mock communion service, with sweet cakes and whiskey, close by 
in the street. On their knees they received the cakes and whiskey from 
the hand of Sharp, blasphemously repeating the words of the institution.— 
Shortly afterward a horse-race took place in the neighborhood at which this 
Sharp was one of the riders—he fell from his horse and died in a few min- 
utes. “Be not deceived, God is not mocked.” After this occurrence the 
disturbances of worship subsided somewhat in that vicinity. 


§ 125. The First General Conference. 


This General Conference was, as we have seen, appointed by the last 
session of the Original Conference, which possessed the undoubted right to 
call such a Conference, as it had the entire work under its exclusive con- 
trol. The 12 delegates who had been elected to constitute the General 
Conference, met at the house of Martin Dreisbach, in Buffalo Valley, Union 
County, Pennsylvania, and were in session October 14th to 17th, 1816. Rev. 
Wm. W. Orwig wrote of it as follows : 

_ “To promote the interests of the printing and book establishment, 
started by the brethren, and to deliberate on a union of the ‘Hvangelical 
Association’ and the ‘United Brethren in Christ’ into one Church, seem to 
have been the main objects of this conference. Several of the brethren and 
members of both denominations were greatly in favor of this union, 
especially John Dreisbach, on the part of the Evangelical Association, and 
Father Christian Newcomer, on the part of the ‘United Brethren’; which 
brethren had, on former occasions, already consulted on this measure, and 
were the leaders of the movement. Bro. Dreisbach assures us, that their 
motives were perfectly pure, considering, as they did, that such a union 
would be highly advantageous to the prosecution of the work of God 
among the Germans of this country. 

“ Pursuant to the resolution passed by the last conference, the chosen 
delegates met at the above mentioned time and place, together with Bishop 
Newcomer, and some other ministers of the ‘United Brethren.’ Con- 
ference being opened with prayer for the blessing of the Most High, the 
regular organization took place, by electing John Dreisbach chairman and 
Henry Niebel secretary. 

“The first, item claiming the attention of conference, was the appoint- 
ment of a General Book Agent and an Assistant. Although the printing 
establishment was then but a small matter, yet a beginning having been 


1816. } EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION, 139 


made, some one had to attend to it. Bro. Solomon Miller was, accordingly, 
elected General Agent, and Henry Niebel Assistant. — The next topic was 
the proposed union. What was said in favor and against it, is not recorded 
in the minutes ; but there is reason to believe, that the two sides of the 
question were duly considered. Bishop Newcomer and the ministers of 
the ‘ United Brethren,’ who had come with him, took an active part in the 
discussions, and both parties agreed on making an attempt at said union. 
Hereupon a conference was appointed, to consist of ministers of both de- 
nominations, to be called ‘Social Conference. On our part, the following 
brethren were chosen delegates to said conference: John Dreisbach, Henry 
Niebel, Solomon Miller, Jobn Kleinfelter, David Thomas and Adam 
Kttinger. This Social Conference was to meet February 14, 1817. 

“The German hymn-book (Das Geiftliche Gaitenfpiel), compiled by John 
Dreisbach and Henry Niebel, was approved, and 1500 copies were ordered 
to be printed. This was the first hymnbook of the Evangelical Asso- 
ciation, and was very favorably received by the membership at large. The 
‘Articles of Faith and Discipline, better arranged and improved by the 
same brethren, was likewise approved by General Conference. Its publi- 
cation was however deferred, on account of the proposed union ; but in 
case of its failure, 1500 copies of the Discipline were also forthwith to be 
printed. — The annual salary of an itinerant, fixed by last conference at 
$56, besides traveling expenses, was raised to $60.” 


$126. The Name “Evangelical Association” Adopted. 


This General Conference dropped the borrowed name, “ The so-called 
Albright People,’ and adopted a permanent one, “The Hvangelical Asso- 
ciation.” It was timely and proper that the Conference thus changed the 
designation of the Church. The name “ Albright People” had its origin 
with ungodly persecutors of the brethren, who connected with Albright’s 
name all the cruel falsehoods and slanders, whereby they stigmatized this 
good man.—And on Scriptural principles no Christian denomination ought 
to bear the name of any human ‘being, even if it were the name of an 
apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, according to the teachings of the apostle 
Paul (1 Corinthians 2.). 

We may be thankful that the Evangelical fathers selected such an ap- 
propriate name as “The Evangelical Association,’ and this came about in 
a very simple, natural manner.—It was customary from the beginning of 
the organization, among the preachers and members, to call themselves : 
“this Association,’ or “our Association” (Gemeinschaft), Thus we find 
the words “Unsere Gemeinschaft’ on the first license issued by the Confer- 
ence in 1807. We also find in the Original Conference book on page 2, 
the following designation: “Diese Vereinigte Evangelische Gemeinschaft,” 
(This United Evangelical Association), evidently in imitation of Rev. John 

10 


140 11 5:h ORV (OL fa ee [1816. 


Wesley, who at first called the Methodists ‘‘The United Societies.” But 
although the word “Gemeinschaft” was always used in common conver- 
sation, and hence unofficially, it was now adopted and authorized by the 
General Conference. It remained to find a proper adjective to qualify 
the name and thus make the Church known by a qualifying appellation. 
A better word for this purpose could not be found than the word “Hvan- 
gelical”, for this contains nothing sectarian, nothing that is merely human, 
yet nothing that is exclusive or arrogant. The Holy Spirit, who was with 
these plain servants of the Lord, guided them also in this matter into the 
way of truth. 


§ 127. The Second Edition of the Discipline. 


The second edition of the Discipline, which was ordered to be printed 
by this Conference, was an important step in the right direction. George 
Miller had worked upon it for several years, and the brethren Dreisbach 
and Niebel had completed the work, in accordance with the direction of 
the last Annual Conference, under the influence of the divine blessing. 

Some of Bro. Dreisbach’s personal memoranda about this work are re- 
markable enough to be inserted. 

The following is a specimen:— 

“Monday, the 17th of June, I arrived at home, and Bro. Niebel and I 
labored this week upon our Discipline, to arrange and prepare it for the 
press, and God gave us great grace in this work and blessed us.” 

On this subject we quote further from Albright and his Co-laborers: 

“1. How very remarkable it is that Miller, through his inability to 
serve a charge, from 1809, was led to ‘write’ the Discipline and other 
necessary works, and that he was not only the author ofthe first edition of 
the Discipline, but substantially also the compiler of the second. 

2, That Miller prayed earnestly for light and strength in preparing 
the Discipline, that Satan attacked him with severe temptations during the 
time he was engaged in this work, and that the little volume was so sig- 
nally crowned with divine favor—these are significant facts. 

3. That Dreisbach and Niebel were so richly blessed, while laboring in 
the preparation of the second edition for the press. This also is remarkable. 


“The Discipline of the Evangelical Association is not a mere human 
product. Under the providence of God it was designed to fill a felt want, 
and was written by men of earnest prayer, under the influence of the Holy 
Spirit, as the blessed results of this book abundantly prove. The Holy 
Scriptures, of course, are only inspired, yet this book of Discipline is also 
worthy of the highest esteem and cheerful obedience, as it is based on the 
Word of God. Hence the earnest questions put to every applicant for the 
ministry: ‘Are you acquainted with the Articles of Faith and Discipline 
of our Church?’ ‘Will you obey and defend them?’ Acquaintance 


1816. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 141 


with our Discipline, and a promise to obey and defend it, are thus made 
the conditions of entrance into the ministry. Were the Discipline a mere 
human work, such conditions could not by any means be made. 

“There was a time whenenot only the ministers constantly carried the 
Discipline with them, but many members also had it in their pockets, to- 
gether with the New Testament. This ‘rule book,’ as it was often called, 
was highly prized and much studied. We will not say how it is in this 
respect at the present day.” * 

This edition was issued in 1817, under the following title : “Articles of 
Faith and Discipline of the Evangelical Association, besides the Object of 
their Union with God and with one another.”’—The book contains 144 
pages, has proper divisions into chapters and sections, and is, excepting 
some changes and additions, substantially the Discipline we now have. 


§ 128. The First Official Hymn-book, and Close of the Session. 


The hymn-book which John Walter had published in 1810 contained 
only 56 hymns and had become too small and inadequate for the wants of 
the Church. Although Conference had instructed or rather permitted Bro. 
Walter to print it, it could not be considered official, in the full sense of the 
word, because Conference had not authorized him to make such a collection 
of hymns. But the Annuai Conference of 1816 appointed the brethren 
Dreisbach and Niebel to prepare a larger collection of suitable spiritual 
hymns for the use of the Church, and they laid the result of their labors be- 
fore the General Conference, which accepted it and ordered the book 
printed under the poetic title: “Das Geistliche Saitenspiel,’’ which may be 
translated : The Spiritual Psaltery. This hymn-book was for those times an 
excellent one, served the Church for many years, and proved to be a means of 
edification and blessing. Thus we have seen that the first General Confer- 
ence of our Church transacted a vast amount of practical and excellent 
business. 

The General Conference closed its session in the same solemn manner 
as did the original Annual Conference, thus adopting the same rule that 
was introduced in 1810 by the Annual Conference, and was also inserted 
into the second edition of the Discipline. Its close is recorded as follows: 


“Our Conference was closed in the name of God, with united approval 
of the above mentioned transactions, and in token of our willingness, and 
that we have obligated ourselves to obey God and our Discipline in accord- 
ance with the Word of God, we sign our names as in the presence of God 
and close with prayer, in faith and confidence in God, who has thus united 
us in peace and love, and has worked in us to will that he will also give us 
the power to do according to his good pleasure through our Lord Jesus 
Christ. Amen. 


*) Albright and his Co-laborers, pp. 271-272. 


142 HISTORY OF THE [1816. 


“John Dreisbach, Henry Niebel, John Erb, John Stambach, John 
Kleinfelter, Solomon Miller, David Thomas, John Dehoff, John Frueh, 
Adam Ettinger.” 


§ 129. The Social Conference. 


Concerning the so-called “Social Conference” which had been appointed 
we have the following report : 

“At the appointed time, the delegates of the Social Conference met at 
Henry Kumler’s, in Canogechigg, Washington Co., Maryland, near Hagers- 
town,* but the delegation of the ‘United Brethren’ not being properly 
authorized, as soon appeared, to act finally, their General Conference hav- 
ing reserved to itself the right of final action on the resolutions of the ‘Soc- 
ial Conference,’ contrary to their previous understanding: our delegation 
was greatly disappointed in their expectations. The delegation of the 
‘United Brethren’ consisted of the following individuals: Bishop C. New- 
comer, Joseph Hoffmann, Jacob Baulus, Abraham Meyer, Christian Berger 
and Conrad Roth.—Although this delegation was not constitutional, yet 
these brethren insisted on a union; and the delegates of the Evangelical 
Association would readily have agreed to it, if it could have been done in 
a proper manner for the promotion of the cause of God.—But there were 
still other impediments in the way: the plan of » regular itinerancy had 
not yet been generally recognized and approved by the United Brethren. 
Some of their members and even ministers had opposed it; neither had 
they a printed Discipline, and its introduction was yet doubtful, as they 
held opposite views on the subject.¢ Hven one of the delegates expressed 
himself more against than fora Discipline. ‘Notwithstanding this,’ says 
Mr. Dreisbach in his report on this Social Conference, ‘they insisted on 
our uniting with them, in spite of all these difficulties. But we said, ‘No,’ 
for we considered it unreasonable under these circumstances, and conse- 
quently could not agree to it. Thus ended this Social Conference, without 
having accomplished its object. Yet,’ continues Mr. Dreisbach, ‘we 


*) It has since been claimed that this Conference was not held where Rev. W. W. 
Orwig claims it to have been held, but that Henry Kumler lived about one mile north 
of Mason & Dixon’s line, in Franklin County, Pa. 

t) In the above quotation it is said that the United Brethren did not yet have a 
printed Discipline. This assertion, made by Rev. W. W. Orwig, evidently upon the 
ground of Rev Jobn Dreisbach’s report, the author of the German History of the 
United Brethren Church positively denies. Upon investigation we find that the Gen- 
eral Conference of the United Brethren Church in 1815, adopted a brief confession of 
faith (creed) and a few Church regulations, which afterwards appeared in print—in a 
little book of 55 pages—but whether it was already published when this “Social Con- 
ference’’ was in session, we could not ascertain, as we have no data at hand. That 
not a few among the ‘‘Brethren” were, at that time and afterward, opposed to Church 
Discipline, scarcely any one will undertake to deny. 


4 


1816.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 143 


prayed with and for each other, preached and exhorted alternately, bade 
each other Godspeed in our operations, and pledged ourselves to treat one 
another as Christians and children of God.’ 

“Mr. Dreisbach, in conclusion on this subject, says: ‘The failure of 
this attempt to bring about a union of these two denominations, displeased 
many members of both parties; yet, I believe, it grieved none so much, as 
it did Father Newcomer and myself.’ 

“The good intentions of the projectors of this union, no one will be 
disposed to call into question: both parties expected to profit by it, and to 
promote their Master’s cause.—As both denominations were yet feeble, and 
small in point of number, and the opposition and persecution by the world 
and nominal Christians were great, their union would have given them more 
respectability and influence, and also lessened the burdens. But how the 
brethren could hope that such an enterprise would succeed, can be ac- 
counted for only by the fact that they were conscious of their upright in- 
tentions, and had overrated each other’s disinterestedness. After the dis- 
cussion was over, they saw very plainly, that under the existing circum- 
stances the contemplated union was impossible.” 

The branching out of organized religious societies into two or more 
parties is indeed no rare occurrence in the Church universal, and some- 
times cannot be prevented. But to merge organically two denominations» 
arising separately and organized independently, whose denominational ac- 
tivity and spirit has been strongly developed, or weld them into one, as it 
were, has seldom been accomplished with success. However, when doctrine 
Church government, purpose and effort, are essentially one, and the Spirit 
of Christ governs them—why not? Does not that Spirit still cause the 
“multitude of them that believe to be of one heart and of one soul?” (Acts 
4,32). And if hearts are one, why not also heads and hands ?—But alas, 
this oneness in Christ is so often lacking, and the “carnal” mixes itself fre- 
quently into the denominational (1 Cor. 3. 1-4). Yet the prayer of Christ 
must be fulfilled: “That they all may be one, as thou, Father, art in me, and 
Lin thee, that they also may be one in us, that the world may believe that 
thou hast sent me” (John 17. 29). 

This unity will result in éhat demonstration which convinces the world 
of the divinity as well as the humanity, and of the divine mission of Christ. 
Lord hasten that day. “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” 


§ 130. The First Meeting-house of the Evangelical Association, 


During this year the aforementioned publishing house and book bind- 
ery was established, and the first meeting-house or church edifice erected, 
both on the same lot, in New Berlin, Union County, Pa., the church at the 
northern, and the publishing house at the southern end of the lot. An en- 
graving of both is here inserted. 


144 AISTORY (OF “THE [1817. 
























































































































































The church was a log, frame building, 34x38 feet. The pulpit was, 
like the pulpits of the old churches in this country, high, rounded in front, 
and very inconvenient. The inside of the house was years afterward re- 
modeled, furnished with a new pulpit, small steeple and a bell. It was 
dedicated on March 2d, 1817, Bro. Dreisbach preaching the dedicatory ser- 
mon from Psalm 27. 4. It wasa precious season, and both ministers and 
members felt as did Jacob when the Lord revealed himself unto him on his 
journey, “that this was none other but the house of God and the gate of 
heaven.” In that house the truth of God’s word achieved many victories 
in awakening and converting sinners and advancing the children of God in 
their spiritual life. Several great revivals took place in it, although the 
membership never was very numerous. 


The publishing house was a frame structure 20x26, and one story and 
a half high. It was used for about twelve years for said purpose, but as the 
Association was yet too young and feeble to sustain such an establishment, 
it failed.—The brethren sold the printing materials, and from that time on 
their printing and binding was done by George Miller, who from the be- 
ginning had been their printer and binder, till the second publishing house 
was erected. The establishment had become considerably involved, and 
the business was weak, so that it required a number of years till the debts 
were paid, and when, in 1837, the second house was established, there 
were barely a few hundred dollars in the treasury, and no dividend had 
ever been made to the Conferences. The old printing office was afterward 
used for various purposes, then adapted and used for Sunday-school pur- 
poses, and finally sold to the school-director of the borough. 


ee es ae 


1817.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 145 


Until now the brethren had preached exclusively in private houses, etc., 
which were in many cases but small log-buildings. The chief concern was 
to lead the people to sound repentance and conversion to God, while exter- 
nal improvements and conveniences remained far in the background. In 
one respect, however, the Evangelical Association was at that time ahead 
of all the German Protestant Churches, namely in the publication business. 
Of course tlie beginning was weak, and yet at the time when the member- 
ship was not much over one thousand, the Discipline, the Hymn-book, the 
Catechism, “Practical Christianity,’ Pamphlets, etc., were published, That 
sales were small and the book business had to contend with difficulties is 
easily explained by the facts that the membership was yet small, and that 
about this time such a severe financial crisis came upon the country, as 
perhaps never occurred before. This crisis was caused by the general re- 
action consequent upon the close of the war with England, and of the Na- 
poleonic wars in Hurope—about A. D. 1815. About two years later the 
price of wheat had fallen from $3.00 to 40 cents per bushel, and all market 
products in about the same proportion. The vast majority of members were 
farmers, upon whom the crisis was most severe. The effects of this “panic” 
lasted over ten year's, and exerted in some respects an unfavorable influence 
upon the work. But the old Evangelical fathers were economical man- 
agers and succeeded finally, with divine help, in bringing their little finan- 
cial craft through the stormy waters without sinking into bankruptcy. 


§ 131. Strict Application of the Discipline at the Tenth Conference. 


The tenth annual Conference was held from June 2d till 7th, 1817, in 
New Berlin, Pa., in the newchurch. Henry Niebel was elected chairman 
and John Kleinfelter appointed secretary. One itinerant and one local 
preacher were expelled from the Church as transgressors, and three deposed 
from office on account of neglect of duty. David Thomas, Adam Hennig 
and Philip Schmidt located. Jacob Barber, Adam Kleinfelter, Samuel Muck, 
Henry Wieand, and Benjamin Boeshor were received on probation. James 
Brewer and Adam Ettinger were ordained deacons, and John Kleinfelter, 
Jacob Kleinfelter and John Stambach elders. 

Itinerants now numbered 21, members 1493, an increase during the 
past Conference year of only 92. 

We see above that discipline was not only applied to members, but 
with equal strictness to preachers. 

Conference elected a number of agents, to whom books were to be 
sent, of whom the preachers could then obtain them for the supply of their 
fields of labor; these agents were called “Book-Commission-men,” and 
were responsible to the Chief book-steward, and the preachers to those 
agents for books received. 

The preachers were stationed as follows : 

Canaan District: John Dreisbach, P. E.; Franklin circuit, Michael 


146 HISTORY OF THE [1818, 


Walter; Berkley circuit, James Brewer ; York circuit, Jacob Kleinfelter 
and Benjamin Boeshor; Lancaster circuit, Adam Ettinger and Jacob 
Barber ; Schuylkill circuit, John Frueh and Samuel Muck; Lake circuit, 
Jobn Schilling. 

Salem District: Henry Niebel, P. E.; Columbia circuit, Leonhart 
Zimmermann ; Union circuit, Benjamin Ettinger and Frederick Kaltreiter ; 
Center circuit, Moses Dehoff; Bedford circuit, John Rickel ; Somerset 
circuit, John Stambach and John Dehoff; Center circuit, Leonhart Zim- 
mermann and John Peters ; Bedford circuit, John Rickel ; Somerset circuit, 
Jacob Barber and Samuel Witt ; Canton circuit, Michael Walter ; Lancaster, 
(Ohio) circuit, Benjamin Ettinger and Samuel Muck. 


§132. Struggles and Victories. 


Although one of the missions in the State of Ohio proved a failure, 
Conference sent two preachers thither and called that field the Lancaster 
(Ohio) circuit. The brethren had good success and at the next Conference 
reported 55 new members. Canton circuit gained 10 and Lake circuit 17 
members. Several of the old circuits increased considerably, and on the 
whole about 400 new members were received during the past Conference 
year—and yet the net increase was but little over 200. Bro. Orwig 
says that persecution was especially severe about this time. Thus many 
of the new converts were intimidated. The preachers were, with few 
exceptions, diligent and faithful. The enemies of the work had now 
given up all hope of crushing it, but they endeavored to hinder it in all 
possible ways—but in vain. “The desire of the wicked shall perish.” 
(Ps. 112, 10.) 

John Dreisbach speaks of a very successful] camp-meeting held soon 
after conference on the land of John Adam Hennig at the lower end of 
Penn’s Valley, Pa. This was, as it appears, the first German camp-meeting 
held in this and the adjoining Brush Valley, which in later times became 
famous for camp-meetings. “ Never,’ says Bro. Dreisbach, “ did I hear the 
brethren preach more instructive and energetic sermons than at this camp- 
meeting. Sinners were awakened and converted and the children of God 
greatly edified and advanced in the work of God.” 


§ 138. Eleventh Conference—Higher Salaries—Pregress. 


The eleventh Conference was also held at. New Berlin, June 1-5, 1818. 
John Dreisbach was elected chairman and Henry Niebel was appointed 
secretary. John Frueh, Adam Ettinger, Henry Wieand and James Brewer 
located. Henry Hassler, John Breidenstein, Samuel Witt and John Peters 
were received on probation. John Dreisbach and Henry Niebel were 
re-elected as presiding elders and changed on the districts. The stationing 
resulted as follows : 


1818. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 147 


Canaan district, Henry Niebel, P. E.; Schuylkill circuit, Moses Dehoff 
and Adam Kleinfelter; Lancaster circuit, John Schilling and Benjamin 
Boeshor ; York circuit, John Kleinfelter and John Breidenstein ; Franklin 
circuit, Henry Hassler; Berkley circuit, Jacob Kleinfelter ; Lake circuit, 
Frederick Kaltreiter. 

Salem district, John Dreisbach, P. E.; Union circuit, John Stambach and 
John Dehoff; Center circuit, Leonhart Zimmermann and John Peters; 
Bedford circuit, John Rickel ; Somerset circuit, Jacob Barber and Samuel 
Witt ; Canton circuit, Michael Walter; Lancaster (Ohio) circuit Benjamin 
Ettinger and Samuel Muck. 

At this Conference the number of itinerant preachers was 21. The 
number of members 1707—increase 214. The salary ef preachers was 
$59.034. Never before had the salary been so high, but from this time on 
it again decreased, as the financial crisis became very oppressive. But the 
little company of itinerants, a few excepted, manifested great heroism in 
facing not only fiery persecution and trials, but also poverty and hardships. 
Had it not been for their families and shattered health, probably all would 
have remained in the field. 


§ 134. Against Conformity to the World. 


The past Conference year had not been quite so prosperous as before, 
yet some circuits increased considerably. However, Lake circuit suffered 
damage on account of the unfaithfulness of the preacher. 

This kind of preachers caused the Society a great deal of trouble in 
those days; almost every year some of them, both itinerant and local 
preachers, were deposed from the ministry, on account of immoral conduct, 
and others were expelled. This was evidently owing to the fact, that ir 
those early days of the Society, men were frequently received into the 
ministry, who lacked the necessary experience and moral firmness. It is 
pleasing, however, to perceive that under these circumstances the Discipline 
of the Church was faithfully executed. As soon as a minister proved 
himself unworthy of his sacred office, he was called to an account and 
censured, or deposed from the ministry, or even expelled, according to the 
nature of his offence. 

In order fully to show the anxiety of the brethren of those times, to 
prevent the spread of every evil, and of every thing that was in their view 
conformity to the world, and also their attitude toward the Methodist Kpis- 
copal Church, with regard to receiving their members into the Society ; we 
give below some resolutions of the last Conference, as being also a part of 
the history of the denomination. These resolutions are :— 

1. “That every preacher be forbidden to wear gloves during summer, 
or to use any of the following articles at any time of the year, viz., silver- 
plated stirrups and bridle-bits, loaded whips, and large watch-leys.” 


148 HISTORY OF THE [1818. 


2. “That it shall be considered a transgression for any one of our 
ministers to receive members of the Methodist Episcopal Church into our 
connection, without the consent of the preacher having charge over them ; 
except in cases where they move from the bounds of their Church into 
those of the Association, or have been regularly dismissed by their 
Church.” . 

From these resolutions it appears, that the things forbidden therein 
either threatened to become fashionable, or had become so already ; and 
that the brethren looked upon them as foreboding harm, Although the 
articles mentioned in the first resolution, may appear trivial to some, and 
any ecclesiastical enactment with regard to them, as being weak and even 
fanatical, yet such an enactment, provided it is not abused by excess, can 
easily be reconciled with the conduct of the apostles themselves. Peter 
and Paul did not deem it beneath their dignity to warn the faithful against 
wearing luxurious apparel, gold and pearls, plaiting the hair, etc. Yet in 
reference to this, we must be guarded against both extremes, and great care 
is necessary, lest we judge others harshly on account of their different 
dress ; a practice which among Christians, and especially among members 
of the same denomination, is productive of more injury than the evil itself 
against which it is directed. 

Resolutions against the use of es and strong drink, then so 
universally in vogue, both among professors of religion and others, we do 
not find in the protocol of the Conferences of those days. This was, in all 
probability, owing to the fact, that the so-called moderate use of these 
articles, was not then considered an evil. In later times, the Society pro- 
tested against both these evils, and the ministers and members were 
ungualifiedly forbidden to use strong drinks as a beverage. 

In reference to the last quoted resolution of this Conference, we would 
merely say that it would have been desirable, if the principle it embodies 
had been mutually regarded. Many a temptation, annoyance, and ill feeling 
would thus have been prevented, and the cause of the Lord much better 
served.—It is still worthy of being recommended to the consideration of 
both Churches, 


§ 135. Happy Death of John Walter. 


A very great vacancy occurred this year in the ministry and the Church 
by the decease of the very successful and faithful servant of the Lord Jesus 
Christ—JoHn WALTER. , 

When Bro. Walter was awakened and converted under the labors of 
Jacob Albright, he was yet young, probably in his 19th year. A few years 

afterward he went forth as an itinerant preacher under the direction of 
Albright, in which calling he labored faithfully until A. D. 1813, when he 
was compelled on account of impaired health, to locate. He served the 
Church nearly 12 years in the itinerancy and distinguished himself 


» 


1818.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIA TION. 149 


everywhere by piety and humility. He was universally beloved and 
esteemed. Ga 

In his preaching he generally exerted himself strenuously and -fre- 
quently would preach from two to three hours with the greatest enthu- 
siasm. In consequence of this exertion he was hoarse much of the 
time, especially toward the close of his ministry, and suffered much on 
account of it.* 

His last circuit was the so-called Schuylkill and Lancaster circuit, which 
the Conference of 1813 assigned to him and two other brethren. In this 
year he began to spit blood, but did not leave his field of labor till he began 
to bleed freely from his throat and lungs and became very sick, From this 
time on he was unable to serve as an itinerant. Notwithstanding his weak- 
ness, however, he frequently attended general and camp-meetings, and his 
preaching was blessed. Sometimes he was confined to his bed and then at 
times he could walk about, yet too weak to do much. When he was first 
taken sick he lived in a place called ‘‘Swamp,” in West Cocalico Township, 
Lancaster County, Pa., where he owned a house and a few acres of land. 
Subsequently he sold his property, and bought another house and a parcel 
of land in Hanover Township, Lebanon County, Pa., near the home of his 
relatives. He was poor and unable to support himself, and therefore some- 
times received the kind assistance of his neighbors and friends. Three 
weeks before his death he became confined to his bed, but enjoyed great 
peace and tranquility of mind. He had borne his five years’ sickness with 
great patience and submission to the will of God, always enjoying a firm 
hope of everlasting glory ; and now in his last attack he joyfully exclaimed, 
“ 7 know that my Redeemer liveth!” and exhorted his wife and relatives 
not to mourn for him, assuring them that he was passing from all suffering 
into everlasting bliss. In this full hope of eternal life he departed on the 
3rd of December, 1818. As he was born on the 21st of August, 1781, his 
career was finished at 37 years, 3 months and 6 days. His remains were 
buried near his house, and Bro. David Thomas preached an affecting funeral 
sermon from Hebrews 13, 17, to a large audience. 

Rev. JoHN BREIDENSTEIN, who was well acquainted with the sainted 
Bro. Walter, speaks of him as follows: “His labors among his brethren were 
calculated to lead them into a higher state of grace. He exhorted them to 
crow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, and insisted 


*) Ags an instance of his great zeal in preaching the following has been related: 
When in 1812 he traveled Franklin circuit, he frequently preached at the house of 
JosePH WENGERT, and Often, after services were over, Mrs. Wengert dried his clothes 
which had become saturated with perspiration during the meeting! Sometimes, like 
Paul, he preached till toward midnight. Like many of his co-laborers, he did not stop 
until he had the “victory.” He was a man of small stature, somewhat below medium 
size, physically well-built, and quite muscular, but although he was “tough and wiry,” 
such over-exertions, however well-intended, were too much for his constitution. 


150 HISTORY OF THE [1819. 


that Christians should follow after holiness, without which no one shall see 
the Lord. He urged that there were immeasurable heights and unfathom- 
able depths in the love of Christ attainable by believing. All his efforts 
were put forth to lead sinners to Christ, and to persuade Christians to walk 
in the Spirit, and to attain unto the highest degree of grace atttainable in 
this life. On certain occasions he made special efforts to urge Christians to 
seek holiness through the prayer of faith, and thus to consecrate themselves 
unreservedly to the Lord. According to his view, holiness consisted in 
being delivered from all evil affections and desires, and in being conformed 
to the will of God, so that God is glorified in our bodies and spirits.—The 
vacancy caused by the departure of Walter could hardly be filled by another 
minister of the Hvangelical Association.” * 

By many testimonies it has been established that God had blessed him 
with an extraordinary gift of preaching, of which he made abundant and 
blessed use, accompanied by much prayer, study of the Scriptures, and a 
godly life. He would preach with great clearness and power on repentance, 
faith, conversion, sanctification, godliness, judgment, heaven, hell, and all 
the leading doctrines of the Bible. His sermons were intense and penetrat- 
ing, so that his audiences were ofttimes overwhelmed and transported by 
divine power into the light of the truths which flowed from his lips, clothed 
with many passages of Scripture, in a stream of natural unaffected eloquence, 
set on fire by the Holy Spirit, and sinners and saints beheld their spiritual 
condition as if reflected by a divine mirror. Of his gift for poetry we have 
spoken elsewhere. All in all the Evangelical Association has never, since 
he finished his career, looked upon his like again. “And they glorified 
God in him.” 


§ 136. Stagnation of the Work Begins. Twelfth Conference. 


The twelfth session of the Conference was also held in New Berlin, 
Pa., from June 7th to 11th, 1819. John Dreisbach was elected chair- 
man and Henry Niebel appointed secretary. Two itinerant and one local 
preacher were expelled from the Association on account of transgressions, 
and Henry Niebel and John Rickel located. David Wolf, Jacob Peters 
and Jacob Baumgartner were received on trial into the itinerancy—the 
former two had traveled for sometime the previous year. John Frueh and 
Jacob Frey re-entered the itinerancy. As Bro. Niebel located and no new 
presiding elder was elected, Bro. Dreisbach had the supervision of both 
districts during the coming Conference year, which proved, however, too 
severe a task for him. 

The preachers were stationed as follows : 

Both districts, John Dreisbach, P. E.; Schuylkill circuit, John Schilling 
and Jacob Baumgartner; Lancaster circuit, Leonhart Zimmermann and 








*) Albright and his Co-laborers, p. 156. 


1819.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 151 


Samuel Muck; York circuit, Michael Walter and Moses Dehoff; Franklin 
circuit, John Frueh ; Berkley circuit, Benjamin Httinger; Lake circuit, 
John Kleinfelter; Union circuit, Henry Hassler and John Breidenstein ; 
Center circuit, John Stambach and Jacob Peters; Bedford circuit, Samuel 
Witt ; Somerset circuit, Adam Kleinfelter and John Peters; Canton circuit, 
Jacob Kleinfelter and J. Frey ; Lancaster (Ohio) circuit, Jacob Barber and 
David Wolf. 

In order to present the numerical strength of the different fields of 
labor more clearly, we insert here the statistics of members, as contained in 
the Conference record. 

In Pennsylvania: Union circuit 239, Center circuit 304, Lancaster 
circuit 277, York circuit 194, Somerset circuit 204, Franklin circuit (partly 
in Maryland) 93, Schuylkill circuit 93, Bedford circuit 43. 

In Ohio: Canton circuit 139, Lancaster (Ohio) circuit 90. 

In Virginia: Berkley circuit 160. Altogether 1895 ; increase last 
Conference year, 188. 

The work was, with the exception of the circuit in Virginia, almost 
exclusively German, although English preaching was expected in some 
places. John Dreisbach, James Brewer and Adam Httinger also preached 
in the English language when it was desired. The brethren believed 
that the chief calling of the Evangelical Association was to labor among the 
(Jermans, because the Methodist Church labored among the English, and the 
United Brethren in Christ also took rapid steps in that direction. There 
was no other body in the field to lead the neglected Germans to Christ, 
and they had not forgotten that Albright’s call had direct reference to the 
Germans. 

Rev. William W. Orwig expresses his views of the work at this time ar 
follows : 

“Tt appears that, although Conference lost four of its itinerant members 
by expulsion and location, yet the circuits were all supplied, but had only 
one presiding elder, whose health began to fail at this time, for which reason 
he could not visit the circuits in Ohio and New York at all, and the rest 
but irregularly. This was very detrimental, preventing the spread and 
increase of the good work, and several of the circuits lost considerably in 
point of numbers, especially Union, Center and Canton; and some scarcely 
retained their number. This was, consequently, the beginning of a time of 
sore trials for the Society. Yet it appears, that the brethren did not lose 
their courage, but prosecuted their labors in humble reliance on help from 
on High, and in some places were crowned with good success. Somerset 
circuit had an increase of 50 members, and old Schuylkill circuit began to 
stir, as if it were already feeling within itself the great reformation which 
was so nearathand. Thus the brethren were not without hope and comfort, 
although some dark clouds were spreading over their horizon. 


152 HISTORY OF THE [1820. 


“The financial matters of the Conference were as yet very deficient, 
besides being connected with many difficulties. The subsidiary contribu- 
tions, which have already been mentioned, were hitherto retained in the 
hands of the trustees, until they were drawn by the ministers by an order 
from Conference. This gave rise to serious difficulties in settling with the 
ministers at Conference, and hence the last session supplied the superin- 
tending preachers with written orders on the trustees, to send in such 
contributions, in case they could not attend Conference in person. This 
custom being continued in future, contributed much to remove the former 
difficulties in settling with the ministers.” * 


§ 137. Departure of Solomon Miller. 


During this Conference year—the date not ascertained—SoLomon | 
MiLuER died. He was a brother of the sainted George Miller, and was 
converted about the same time as his brother. He took an active part in 
the “ Council”’ of 1803, became a local preacher and was a member of the 
Original Conference in 1807, and also of the first General Conference in 
1816. As he lived in New Berlin, Pa., which place was for many years, in 
many respects, the “‘ headquarters ”’ of the Church, he took great interest in 
the work and also served since the opening of the publishing business as 
chief manager or steward, to which position General Conference had elected 
him in 1816. He was one of the “ pillars” of the Church, one of the solid, 
grand men who helped to fight the initiatory battles of the Evangelical 
Association, and proved himself a faithful servant in the work of God unto 
the end of his useful life. 


§ 138. Annual and General Conference Held Jointly. 


In 1820 the thirteenth session of the Annual Conference was also held 
at New Berlin, Pa., and continued from the 5th to the 9th of June. As this 
was the fourth year since the session of the first General Conference, the 
Annual and General Conferences were held jointly, although there were but 
few items of General Conference business transacted, having reference 
chiefly to the book and printing affairs of the Association, Hence no dele- 
gates were chosen, but al! members of the Annual Conference who had the 
right to vote, had also a voice in these proceedings. From this time until 
the introduction of the regular delegate system at General Conference in 
1839 every minister in the office of an elder had the right to attend General 
Conference and was entitled to a vote. 

John Dreisbach was again elected chairman and Henry Niebel appointed 
secretary of the Conference. John Dreisbach was also chosen General Book 
Agent in the place of the deceased Bro. Solomon Miller, and he, with Henry 
Niebel and John Stambach, were continued as the Standing Book Commit- 


*) Orwig’s /istory, etc., pp. 101, 102. 


1820.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 153 


tee for the examination of such works as should be published. John 
Stambach located on account of feeble health, and John Peters, Samuel Witt 
and J. Frey on account of temporal affairs. Daniel Middelkauf and 
George Lanz entered the itinerancy, and John Erb, John Rickel and John 
Dehoff, who had traveled before, re-entered. John Erb was elected presiding 
elder. Henry Hassler, John Breidenstein, David Wolf and George Lanz 
were ordained deacons, and Michael Walter, Jacob Barber, Moses Dehoff 
John Frueh, Benjamin Ettinger and John Schilling, elders. 

The preachers were stationed as follows :— 

Canaan district, John Erb, P. E.; Schuylkill circuit, Benjamin Ettinger 
and Jacob Peters; Lancaster circuit, John Kleinfelter and David Wolf; 
York circuit, Jacob Barber and John Dehoff; Franklin circuit, Leonhart 
Zimmermann ; Berkley circuit, John Frueh; Lake circuit, Samuel Muck. 

Salem district, John Dreisbach, P. E.; Union circuit, Adam Kleinfelter 
and George Lanz; Center circuit, John Schilling and Jacob Baumgartner ; 
Bedford circuit, John Rickel ; Somerset circuit, Michael Walter and Moses 
Dehoff; Canton circuit, Henry Hassler and Daniel Middelkauf; Lancaster 
(Qhio) circuit, Jacob Kleinfelter and John Breidenstein. 

At this Conference 32 itinerants, 50 local preachers, and 1992 members 
were reported, an increase of 97 members. The preachers’ salaries, besides 
traveling expenses, amounted to $36.30 each ; all receiving the same amount, 
whether married or single. 


b] 


§ 139. Retrogression of the Work. 


On this subject we permit William W. Orwig to speak first :— 

“The previous year, as already intimated, the work had begun to stagnate ; 
this year it began to retrograde. Although the Society, for the last few 
years, had annually increased somewhat, in numbers; yet its boundaries 
had been enlarged but little if any, having formed no new circuit since the 
last four years. This year it decreased in point of numbers, This indeed 
was not encouraging ; but taking into consideration, that the more expe- 
rienced preachers had during the last years left the itinerancy, and that their 
places had been filled with men who had no experience, and some of whom 
were also deficient in other respects, this result need not surprise us, for 
under such circumstances nothing else could be expected.—Some of the 
preachers had families to support, and received nothing for them from the 
societies. Some made the trial to travel one or two years, but located then 
“on account of family circumstances.” No wonder! Others, it is true, did 
the same “on account of bodily infirmities ;” but whether even in some of 
these cases family circumstances, or in other words, the impossibility of living 
on the wind, were not the real causes of their locating, is still a question. 
Those who had property to sacrifice, or were blessed with wealthy and 
sympathizing relatives, who were willing to help them along, could stand it 
longer ; but even in their case it would not do for ever. Cares, not for 


f 


154 HISTORY OF THE [1820. 


riches, but for their very existence, undermined both their spiritwal and 
natural lives. Temptation became too powerful, and the consequence was 
that many of the men and youths, who had come to Conference with the 
firm conviction that God had called them to the ministry, after one or several 
years’ trial, returned to their secular business in order to be enabled to 
support their families as the Scriptures require. If they had not done this, 
they would have been compelled, either to contract debts without any 
reasonable prospect of paying them, or to suffer want, unless God had 
supported them in a miraculous manner, as he did Elijah and the widow of 
Sarepta. It is true, the number of preachers was too large in proportion to 
the number of members, there being less than one hundred members to one 
preacher ; yet if the members had annually contributed but one dollar each, 
toward the support of their ministers, there would either have been no want: 
at all; or if any, it would have been less grievous and injurious. But the 
contributions toward the support of the ministry did not, on an average, 
amount to even more than fifty cents per member! Yet in justice to the 
Society, it must be added, that the duty of liberality was not so well under- 
stood in those days among Christians generally, as in modern times, 
especially not in the Evangelical Association. Nor is it improbable, that 
it was, to some extent, the fault of the ministers themselves, that they were 
not better supporied ; partly because they did not wish to be called hire- 
lings, and therefore neglected to explain and enforce the duty of liberality 
with that stress which they did the duty of watching and prayer ; and partly 
also, because the proper means were not adopted to realize this end. That 
this cause, with perhaps some others, had, toa great extent, discouraged and 
paralyzed the ministry in those days, must appear evident to all who 
examine its circumstances and affairs. There was not that enterprising 
Spirit in the ministry, to spread and push forward the work, that had before 
characterized that body, and characterized it again in subsequent times. In 
short, for some reason or other, the work had begun to stand still and to 
retrograde.” 

There is much truth in these pointed remarks, but the writer of them 
entirely overlooked the potent fact that the depressing effects of the finan- 
cial and commercial crisis which befell the comparatively young and 
undeveloped country after the close of the war (1815) still continued so 
severely that there was scarcely any business or money left. In addition 
to this, immigration from Europe was much diminished,* and the young 
Pennsylvanians became ambitious to step into the English, by which tend- 
ency the Evangelical Association as well as other German Churches were 
more or less affected.t 


*) 








The entire number of immigrants trom Europe in 1820 amounted to but 8,485, 
of whom not one-half were Germans. From 1820 to 1830 only 7,000 German immi- 
grants came into this country. 


tT) The United Brethren in Christ especially realized this tendency. 
History of U. B. in Christ. (German.) pp. 180, etc. 


1821.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 155 


§ 140. Seven Preachers Locate! 


In 1821 Conference assembled again in the church at New Berlin, Pa., 
to hold its fourteenth session, which lasted from June 4th to 8th. John Erb 
was elected chairman and Jacob Kleinfelter appointed secretary. Two 
itinerant preachers were deposed from office and two local preachers 
expelled from the Church. Seven preachers located, namely, John Dreis- 
bach, John Rickel, John Frueh, Samuel Muck, John Schilling, Leonhart 
Zimmermann and George Lanz—all on account of physical infirmities or 
poor health. Bro. Dreisbach exclaims regretfully, almost reproachfully, 
with respect to this circumstance: “Almost one-third of the number of 
itinerants of the previous year !” 

Although the number of regular itinerants was made 9 less through 
deposition and location, we see 6 new ones stepping in, namely, John 
Seybert, John Vandersall, Frederick Glasser, Jacob Bixler, John Stoll 
and John Hisenberger. Among these several proved to be “chosen 
vessels ”—only think of John Seybert, for instance! Jacob Baumgartner, 
John Vandersall and Christian Wolf were ordained deacons, and John 
Dehoff and Adam Kleinfelter as elders. John Kleinfelter was elected 
presiding elder. The stationing resulted as follows: 

Canaan district, John Erb, P. E.; Schuylkill circuit, Jacob Kleinfelter 
and Jacob Bixler; Lancaster circuit, John Breidenstein and John Hisen: 
berger; York circuit, Benjamin Ettinger and John Vandersall ; Franklin 
circuit, Jacob Baumgartner; Berkley circuit, John Dehoff; Lake circuit, 
Michael Walter. 

Salem district, John Kleinfelter, P, E.; Union circuit, John Seybert 
and Frederick Glasser; Center circuit, David Wolf and Moses Dehoff; 
Somerset and Bedford circuit, Jacob Barber and Daniel Middelkauf; Can- 
ton circuit, Henry Hassler and Jacob Peters; Lancaster (Ohio) circuit, 
Adam Kleinfelter and John Stoll. 

The membership now counted 1974, a loss of 18 during the past 
Conference year. The salaries of the preachers came down to $28.66, all 
the preachers who traveled the whole year received the same amount, 
besides traveling expenses, which amounted from $2.25 to $25.52. The 
sum of money which was distributed was $554. 03, averaging 284 cents per 
member. 

With regard to the locating of so many preachers, Rev. William W. 
Orwig expresses his view as follows :— 


“itis not our object to cast any reflections upon these esteemed 
brethren ; yet we cannot pass by this circumstance, without calling atten- 
tion to the fact that the desertion from the ranks of the itinerancy of such 
a large proportion in one year, besides the number who had located during 
several of the preceding years, notwithstanding that some of them were 


really unwell, and may perhaps have been almost unable to travel, cannot 
1] 


156 HISTORY OF THE (1821, 


easily be reconciled with the high calling and the important work which 
they had begun in the name of the Lord. Death by starvation would surely 
not have been their lot, although they might not have been under any 
obligations to their salaries for it; and that, under the circumstances in 
which the work was at that time, they left the itinerancy without any bet- 
ter reason than a slight indisposition, and thus by their withdrawal increased 
the danger and imperiled. the very existence of the Church, we do not know 
how to justify, however well disposed we might be to do so. With our 
view of the call to the ministry, we cannot justify a cessation of the dis- 
charge of the regular official duties, unless that minister should devote in an 
equally effective manner, both his time and talents to the cause of God. 
But in no case of accidental indisposition, where perhaps not even any 
serious debility has taken place, is such a course justifiable—nor is it less 
censurable where real want of support has been the cause, if such a relation 
is continued after these obstacles are removed, whether it be by his own 
efforts or otherwise. To resign the sacred office, because it is deficient in 
prospects for a proper provision in old age or for accumulating wealth for 
children or posterity, would be base and a denial of the faith once delivered 
to the saints. 

“This state of things affected Conference for several years to an alarm- 
ing extent. To locate, either on account of bodily infirmities or of family 
circumstances, had, as it were, become the order of the day, at the sessions 
of Conference ; and yet the evil, it seems, was not properly understood, 
nor were effective measures taken to remove it, or to arrest its progress. 

“Whilecontemplating these unfavorable circumstances of Conference, it 
is, however, refreshing to see that there were always others, though gener- 
ally inexperienced men, ready to take the places of those who had with- 
drawn ; and that many of the older brethren, who had withdrawn for the 
assigned reasons from the ministry for some time, afterward re-entered its 
ranks, and spent many years of usefulness in the service of the Church.” 

We again quote from Orwig’s History, as follows :— 

“Speaking of this time and these circumstances, Mr. Dreisbach says : 
‘The wives and children of the itinerants of those days were not supported 
by Conference, for which reason so many preachers were obliged to locate, 
to enable them, as honest citizens, to support their families decently.’ This, 
then, was the real cause why so many of the preachers withdrew from the 
itinerancy ; and yet it does not appear in the Conference minutes of those 
days, that any proper measures were taken to present this subject in its 
proper light to the membership, and thus to check the progress of this 
alarming evil !—Viewed in the light of truth or reason, this must be 
regarded as a gross neglect of duty. If this subject had been properly 
explained to the members, every one’s duty with regard to it pointed out, 
and plainly indicated and enforced, there is little room to doubt, that the 
salary of the preachers might even then have been increased by one-half; 


1821.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 157 


which would have been not cnly more honorable for the Society, but also 
contributed greatly to its more rapid spread, its increase in numbers and 
influence. But in this, as in many other things, great indulgence must be 
exercised, for the want of knowledge and experience in those days; con- 
sidering that the Evangelical Association could not become in a few years 
what it is at present, and that even now it has much to learn and in many 
respects to reform. The ministers were certainly not lacking sincerity, but 
intelligence and a proper spirit of enterprise.* 

Kqually unsatisfactory and discouraging were the affairs of the Print- 
ing Hstablishment in those days. In speaking of this, Mr. Dreisbach says: 
‘In the last year (1819) the New Testament (in German) was printed and 
bound in our establishment, but the edition was much too large for those 
times and circumstances ; for, in consequence of an extraordinarily large 
importation of books from HKurope, during the previous year, the prices had 
been much reduced, and having other German books yet on hand, and the 
number of our patrons being comparatively small, our books found a slow 
sale, and thus the establishment suffered. Hence we were compelled to 
curtail our printing operations, and to confine ourselves to the publication 
of some few tracts. —Speaking of this Conference year, he says: ‘It was 
resolved by this Conference, that the Standing Book Committee shall, if 
possible, let out the Printing HMstablishment, if not, the work to be carried 
on according to the means in hand ; or, if deemed best, to be suspended 
altogether.’—This was about the last of the first Printing Establishment of 
the Evangelical Association. The committee let it out for three years; 
afterward it was sold, and Geo. Miller did all the printing and binding of the 
books for the Society until, as already stated, the second establishment was 
erected in 1837. The General Book Committee of the Society was, however, 
always retained, and the book-trade carried on as circumstances required, 
and finally all the debts of the Establishment were discharged. 


In concluding this subject, we will add what Father Dreisbach 
says of the year 1826: ‘Although our book affairs terminated in this 
manner, yet we were not without consolation, for we were assured that 
the purest motives had prompted us to engage in the work, viz., the 
honor and glory of God, and the welfare of our fellow-men; and in 
the next place, we were glad that we were not insolvent, but had, after 








*) It may be in place to insert here an example of the support of preachers in the 
United Brethren Church about this time. During the Conference year 1821-1822 the 
amount contributed in their chief Conference (Hagerstown) was $620.50, which was: 
distributed among 8 itinerant preachers, of which two—probably married ones— 
received each $124.10, and the other six each $62.05. Ifthe above total amount had 
been divided among 21 preachers, as was the case with our preachers, then each 
would have received only about $29.55. Many instances of this kind could be cited. 
They also felt the terribly oppressive effects of the financial reaction in the country. 
These facts must also be considered. 


158 HISTORY OF THE [1822. 


all debts were paid, still some means left for carrying on the business in 
the future.” 

From this it appears, that the time under consideration was one of sore 
trials for the Society, especially the year just described, and also the fol- 
lowing. It seemed as if pitchy clouds were spreading over the whole 
horizon of the Society, and the powers of darkness triumphing over the 
newly risen light for a season.—Of particular persecutions in those days 
there are no records extant, and it appears as if the violent storm had 
abated, and the enemies of light and truth had dismissed their apprehen- 
sions with regard to this small band of believers. But this state of things 
was not to last long ; the temptation was not to exceed the possibility of 
endurance, but was to terminate in such a manner as ‘to make a way for 
escape.’ <A few years after this time,—when the fury of the conflict with 
the powers of darkness had reached its highest pitch,—signs of better times 
became perceptible. The light of truth commenced to penetrate at different 
nlaces, and tokens of the favor and approbation of the Most High became 
more and more visible, until at last help came out of Zion to this small 
Tsrac! of God, and glorious revivals occurred in various places, as the sequel 
of thie history will show. 


§ 141. Still Another Year of Trial. 


The fifteenth session of the Conference was also held in New Berlin, 
Pa., commencing on June 3rd, 1822. John Kleinfelter was chairman and 
vohn Erb secretary. Benjamin Ettinger and Michael Walter located on 
account of feeble health, and Moses Dehoff on account of family affairs. 
Joseph Long, Philip Wagner, John W. Miller, Abraham Becker, Fred- 
erick Borauf and William Scholty were received into the itinerant 
ministry. Ordained as deacons, John Seybert and Daniel Middelkauf; as 
elders, David Wolf, John Breidenstein and Henry Hassler. 


Preachers were stationed as follows :-— 

Canaan district, John Erb, P. E.; Union circuit, Jacob Barber and 
John Hisenberger ; Center circuit, Danie] Middelkauf and John Stoll; York 
circuit, Adam Kleinfelter and William Scholty ; Lancaster circuit, John 
Vandersall and John W. Miller ; Schuylkill circuit, John Breidenstein and 
Frederick Borauf; Lake circuit, John Dehoff. 

Salem district, John Kleinfelter, P. E.; Franklin circuit, Jacob Klein- 
felter and Abraham Becker ; Berkley circuit, Frederick Glasser ; Somerset 
circuit, Jacob Baumgartner and Joseph Long; Canton circuit, John 
Seybert and Philip Wagner; Lancaster (Ohic) circuit, David Wolf and 
Jacob Peters ; to seek a new circuit, Henry Hassler. 

The number of members was 1936—decrease since previous Conference 
of 38, itinerant ministers 23, local preachers 41, salary of itinerants $35.61. 

This was another year of sore trials. Most of the circuits lost in num- 


1822.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 159 


ber, some considerably, especially York and Lancaster ; only Canton circuit, 
in the State of Ohio, increased considerably. John Seybert was the only 
preacher on this circuit for the greater part of the year, his colleague having 
been transferred to the Lancaster (Ohio) circuit, in place of Jacob Peters 
who had been taken sick. Toward Fall a camp-meeting was held on the farm 
of Mrs. Jolly, a widow. John Kleinfelter was presiding elder and preached 
powerfully, so that many hearts were moved. Some were anxious to give 
themselves up to the Lord, but the mob dragged them away. Not much 
good resulted from this camp-meeting. 


The decrease in point of numbers during this year was the greatest, 
but also the last, which the Society suffered. — On Schuylkill circuit, 
where the foundation of the glorious reformation, which broke out in 
the following year, had been laid several years before, the work gradually 
progressed during this year. Brother John Breidenstein preached several 
times to deeply attentive audiences in the court-house of Orwigsburg ; 
some of the hearers were awakened and enlightened, and assented’ to the 
word of truth. Some had, as it were, already become secret disciples, but 
were still afraid to confess it openly before men. Thus many of the place 
and vicinity were nigh to the kingdom of God, but no conversions occurred 
during this year. On the whole, the circuit numbered at the close of the 
year 129 members, one less than the year before, although 16 new members 
had been received during the vear. 


The numerous withdrawals from the itinerancy for several years, seem 
not only to have kept the ministry in a state of feebleness with regard to 
numbers, but to have discouraged them and the membership more or less. 
A considerable number of the oldest and most experienced members had 
withdrawn from the itinerancy, among whom were John Dreisbach and 
Henry Niebel. After Albright, Miller, and Walter, these two brethren had, 
for a number of years, been the leaders of the Society : the former especially 
had excelled as a general of the small Evangelical army of the Lord. His 
services were almost indispensable, and it would have been of incalculable 
benefit to the Church to have enjoyed them still longer. But, although 
Brother Dreisbach had, in his younger years, been an active and robust 
man, yet his health had during his fourteen years’ itinerancy suffered so 
much by exposures, fatigues, and excessive labors, both by preaching and 
traveling, that scarcely any one, who is acquainted with his circumstances, 
would censure him for locating.—For a number of years afterward he was 
altogether unable to preach ; and if at the urgent request of his brethren 
he undertook it, his sufferings would generally be greatly increased thereby 
for some time. Yet it is a gratifying thought to his friends to know, that 
this aged father, after a location of about 30 years, re-entered the itinerancy, 
and labored with success. Several of the other brethren, who located at 
this time, at a former or subsequent time attempted to serve as itinerants 


160 HISTORY OF THE [1823. 


again—-among whom was Henry Niebel, as will appear from the sequel-— 
and some of them were very useful,* 


§ 142. Changing for the Better. 


We now come to the year 1823 and rejoice that a better time is dawn- 
ing upon the work, although the past Conference year does not offer much 
cause as yet for gladness. . 


The sixteenth session of Conference opened on the 2nd of June, 1823, in 
the village of Shrewsbury, Pa., (at that time called Strassburg,) in a churcn 
built shortly before in union with the Methodists, and which was the second 
church of the Evangelical Association. John Erb was elected chairman 
and John Kleinfelter appointed secretary. The examination of the 
preachers was as usual close and searching, yet there were no charges 
preferred this time. The ministry had for several years before been searched | 
keenly.+ There was now a number of able, fresh men in the ministry, such 
as the three Kleinfelters, Seybert, Bixler, Long, Buck, Reisner, Wagner, 
Kring; and the local veterans John Dreisbach, Henry Niebel and John 
Erb were excellent advisers.— Again 7 itinerants located at this session, 
namely John Erb, John Vandersaii, John W. Miller, D. Wolf and John 
Hisenberger on account of shattered health, and Henry Hassler and William 
Scholty on account of family affairs. But 5 new men entered the itinerancy, 
namely, Conrad Kring, Thomas Buck, Jacob Foy, Benjamin Bixler and 
John ©. Reisner--the last named had traveled already a part of the 
past Conference year.t} —-John Stoll, Frederick Glasser, Jacob Frey and 
‘William Scholty were ordained as deacons, and Jacob Barber and Adam 
Kleinfelter were elected presiding elders. The work in Ohio was formed 
into a presiding elder district. 

The stationing resulted as follows :— 

Canaan district, John Kleinfelter, P. E.; Schuylkill circuit, John Sey- 
bert ; Lancaster circuit, Jacob Kleinfelter ; York circuit, Benjamin Bixler 
and Conrad Kring ; Franklin and Berkley circuit, Joseph Long and John 
C. Reisner. 


*) Orwig’s History, ete., pp. 110, 112. 

+) At that time—and for years afterward—it was the custom to send each preacher 
outdoors, when his turn came, and in his absence inquire whether there were any 
charges against him. If charges were preferred he was called in, and the investiga- 
tion was held. If there was no charge, the next one was sent out, and the one coming 
in heard from the Chairman the gladsome words, “ No charges, brother.” Sometimes 
“complaints” were presented against the one outside which were not regarded as 
charges, yet they caused a discussion in the absence of the one concerned, and he 
could of course make no explanation. For this and other reasons, this custom was 
abandoned, and now each preacher must be examined in his presence. 

t) Mr. Reisner was also the first European born preacher that entered the 
Evangelical ministry. He became a distinguished preacher and was also an able 
writer. ; 


1823.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 161 


Salem district, Jacob Barber, P. E.; Union and Center circuit, John 
Breidenstein, Jacob Foy and Abraham Becker; Somerset eircuit, John 
Dehoff and Thomas Buck ; Lake circuit, Frederick Glasser. 

Ohio district, Adam Kleinfelter, P, E.; Lancaster (Ohio) circuit, John 
Stoll and Philip Wagner; Canton circuit, Jacob Baumgartner ; to seek a 
new circuit, Jacob Frey.* 

The number of itinerants now was only 19, local preachers 59, members 
18&54—a decrease of 82 during the past year. The salary of the preachers 
was $31.66. ‘ These were times that tried men’s souls,’ and their bodies 
too! Severe labor, exposures to all sorts of weather, and ofttimes hunger 
and fastings, had their effects even upon strong constitutions, 

Speaking of this Conference and the circumstances of the Association, 
John Dreisbach says: “Although we now had three districts, yet we 
numbered 4 itinerants and 138 members less than in 1820. This was dis- 
couraging indeed, yet we did not despond, but looking upon this state of 
things as a trial of our faith, we took courage and in humble reliance on 
God’s promises, that he would make us fruitful, extend our borders, and 
give us many more souls, we continued our labors, and we were not 
disappointed. Praise his holy Name forever!” 


§ 143. The Dawn of a Better Day. 


The dawning light of,a new and blessed day now began to break upon 
the struggling Association and the “ Sun of Righteousness ” with “ healing 
in his wings” beamed with gracious brilliancy upon the small Church. A 
lengthy quotation from Rev. Wm. W. Orwig will introduce to the reader 
some of the preliminary details concerning it :t 

“In this year began the glorious awakening and revival at Orwigsburg 
and vicinity, in Schuylkill Co., Pa.; and as this was one of the greatest and 
most extensive revivals that ever took place in the connection, we here 
subjoin a somewhat circumstantial report of it, being fully persuaded, that 
it will not only be interesting to the majority of our readers, but also 
edifying and encouraging. The revival continued for years, and extended 
more and more in various directions, to the salvation of many souls. Not 
only the neighborhood, but also many other regions experienced its salutary 
influence. Some ofthe new converts wrote to their relatives, friends, and 
acquaintances in distant parts of the country, or visited them, relating what 
great things the Lord had done for them. Or when they were visited by 
them, they scattered, by their confessions, exhortations, fervent and believ- 
ing prayers, as well as by their fear of God and their godly walk, the good 


*) “To seek a new circuit "—This was in many respects the most difficult work 
and would show, among other things, “of what metal a man was made.’ In most 
cases, however, these pioneer brethren succeeded tolerably well, all circumstances 
taken into consideration. 

T) Orwig’s History, etc., pp. 114. 115. 


162 HISTORY OF THE [1823. 


seed richly into their hearts. Those of our preachers, who were invited 
from other circuits to attend the general and camp-meetings here, as well 
as those in charge of the circuit, during the years of the awakening, were 
seized by the fire of the unfeigned love to God and man, that was burning 
there, and extended the work in all directions, so that almost the whole 
Association was more or less affected by the fruits of this revival. How- 
ever we go back and consider first the moral condition of this place 
and vicinity, prior to this revival, and then its origin, progress, and 
results. 

“Schuylkill, Berks, and several of the adjacent Counties, were long before 
noted for their immorality, their adherence to the old ecclesiastical institu- 
tions, their abhorrence of all innovations, and their hatred of the sects. In 
some places, when a new minister was to be called, little or no inquiry was 
made concerning the candidate’s moral or religious character; but the 
question was, whether he was opposed to such innovations as Sunday- 
schools, Bible, Tract, and Missionary societies, prayer-meetings, etc. If 
this was the case, he was the man for these people. Some parts of these 
counties had by their opposition to education, learning and improvements 
of every kind, become a by-word almost throughout the entire country. All 
kinds of sin and vices reigned in all the so-called Christian congregations ; 
and when now and then a person was found, who saw the corruption to 
some extent, and ventured to censure it and to disapprove the spurious 
service of God, he was considered and despised as a fanatic. The few 
individuals who were better disposed and anxious to save their souls, living 
among these ungodly crowds of nominal Christians, were suppressed and 
had but little influence on their rough fellow-members. Such was 
the condition of Orwigsburg and vicinity, prior to the great revival in 
question.” 


§ 144. The Great Awakening at Orwigsburg, Pa. 


From the year 1806, when Rev. George Miller had a remarkable awak- 
ening on the west side of the Susquehannah river, the center of Church 
activity remained on that side. The work spread across the Allegheny 
mountains and through Maryland into Virginia. On that side the first 
camp-meeting was held (1810), the first church built (1816), the first pub- 
lishing house established (1816), the first, second and third General 
Conference sessions held (1816-20-26), the fifth (1812), sixth (1813), 
seventh (1814), eighth (1815), ninth (1816), tenth (1817), eleventh (1818), 
twelfth (1819), thirteenth (1820), fourteenth (1821), fifteenth (1822), six- 
teenth (1823), seventeenth (1824), eighteenth (1825), etc., etc., Annual 
Conference sessions were held on that side of the river and many awaken- 
ings took place, while on the east side of the river (the territory now in the 
East Pennsylvania Conference) the work was progressing slowly with 
intervals of slight retrogressions. But now came a turn for the better for 


1823.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 163 


the east side, commencing with a wonderful awakening and revival in and 
around Orwigsburg which properly started in the year 1823, and continued 
for about 3 years most gloriously. 

The main source of information concerning this remarkable work of 
grace is a written report by John Hammer of Orwigsburg, which contains 
his own observations ; and also fragments from Bishop John Seybert’s 
diary. Intermixed with these are also Rey. William W. Orwig’s observa- 
tions who became himself an eye- and ear-witness and a subject of the 
operations of grace when the awakening had been going on for about 
eighteen months and was in its most blessed stage. 

Mr. Hammer's document begins with the aborigines of this region, and 
their cruelties committed against the white settlers. But by and by, he 
goes on to state, the region was peopled, and its inhabitants were considered 
a moral people; although one could not hear a word about true Christi- 
anity among them, nor about the necessity of the new birth. The nature 
and necessity of conversion was something entirely unknown to them, 
though some seemed to have an instinctive feeling, that, to inherit eternal 
life, man must experience a change of heart. But these impressions of the 
Holy Ghost were, as we may well infer, generally opposed and quenched by 
the fatal consolations of false teachers, who comforted their people with the 
assurance that the observance of various religious rites and ceremonies and 
a correct external deportment was sufficient for salvation, Thus men 
generally lived in indifference, and walked in darkness.—At one time Mr. 
Albright came to that part of the country, and preached in a church near 
Orwigsburg ; but as Satan soon found his agents willing to circulate the 
foulest reports concerning him, he was forbidden to repeat his visit. Thus 
also a certain Methodist minister preached several times in the house of a 
church-elder, near Orwigsburg ; but when the parson of the place heard 
of it, he violently inveighed against it, and the elder did not dare to admit 
the strange minister into his house again. Other offers of pious preachers 
were likewise declined, and thus matters went on till the year 1817, when 
it pleased God to work powerfully, and soon after to awaken a man named 
Daniel Focht, proprietor of an iron-forge near Orwigsburg, who was thor- 
oughly converted the following year, by the instrumentality of those 
Kvangelical preachers Adam Kleinfelter and Moses Dehoff. This man, soon 
after his conversion, felt a divine call to preach the Gospel, and clothed 
with power from on high, he stood up in the name of the Lord as a real 
“son of thunder,”— preaching with power, denouncing sin and vice of every 
description scathingly, and producing a considerable sensation among the 
people. He insisted on repentance and faith, representing Christ as an 
impartial and perfect Saviour, and assured all, that if they would come to 
him in true contrition of heart and in faith, they would be accepted. God 
blessed his labors, so that in the course of a few years a band had 
gathered around him, who were resolved to serve the Lord. But, as 


164 HISTORY OF THE [1823. 


might be expected, persecution soon followed ; however, instead of allowing 
this to discourage him, he made still greater efforts, faithfully improving 
every opportunity to advance the salvation of his fellow-men and to do 
good. In 1822 he once requested and obtained permission to preach in the 
court-house of Orwigsburg. God granted him strength and power from on 
high, so that a considerable portion of his audience were powerfully affected 
and thoroughly awakened. But on a certain clergyman, who happened to 
be present, the word made quite a different impression. He was filled with 
wrath, went his way, and endeavored to circulate slanderous reports about 
Bro. Focht ; he effected, however, but little with his machinations. 

Shortly after this meeting in the court-house, a camp-meeting was held 
on the farm of Bro. Focht, which was richly blessed of God. Some of the 
citizens of Orwigsburg, among others Richard Rickert and Joseph Zoll, 
were awakened and enlightened, who in their anxiety for salvation, invited 
John Breidenstein, then preacher in charge of Schuylkill circuit, to come 
and preach in their neighborhood. Mr. Breidenstein accepted the invitation 
and preached several times in the court-house at Orwigsburg, to the entire 
satisfaction of many of his hearers. On one occasion, the court-house was 
not opened at the proper hour, when he preached in the school-house of the 
place. Many heard him gladly, and some even received and entertained 
him at their homes. But as usual, the parsons were again his principal 
enemies, who by slanderous reports endeavored to blast his reputation, and 
thus to alienate the hearts of the people from him; but again they failed. 
Next they assailed his doctrine, maintaining that men could not, in this life, 
be freed from sin; that even the holiest and most devoted persons were 
sinners as long as they lived on earth, and could not keep the command- 
ments of God, etc. Mr. Breidenstein refuted these errors, representing 
Christ as a perfect Saviour, who saves such as submit to Him in true 
repentance and in faith, from all sin, and makes them free indeed. God 
blessed his preaching abundantly to the awakening and enlightening of 
many souls, who then commenced to search the Scriptures and inquire for 
the way of salvation. 

In 1823, as may be seen from the minutes of Conference of that year, 
John Seybert was appointed to Schuylkill circuit, and found the field white 
for the harvest. The seed of the divine word had not only germinated and 
struck deep roots, it also began to bear fruit, but had not yet come to a 
perfect development. Bro. Seybert commenced preaching regularly in and 
about Orwigsburg, in the court-house, in school-houses, private dwellings, 
and sometimes also in the woods under the canopy of heaven. In the month 
of September he had an appointment in a school-house, 3 miles from 
Orwigsburg ; but when he arrived at the spot, he found the school-house 
locked. A poor colored man named Wilson, who lived in a tenant’s house, 
opened his door to him, and he preached from the words John 1, 12. 13.: 
“ He came unto his own,” etc. The locking of the school-house proved a 


1824. | EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 165 


blessing in this case, as during this sermon God opened the hearts of many, 
as he once did the heart of Lydia by the preaching of Paul, and henceforth 
some of them found no more rest, till by penitence and faith, they had 
obtained the forgiveness of their sins. The meetings continued to increase 
in earnestness and importance, and at this time Bro. Seybert made the 
acquaintance of Christopher Wagner, who kept a hotel two miles below 
Orwigsburg, and was, with his family, to some extent awakened and 
inquiring for the way of salvation. On the 30th of November Bro. Seybert 
preached for the first time in his house, from Acts 3, 22. 23. Speaking of 
tkis meeting, Bro. Seybert says: “An uncommon weeping and wailing 
broke out here, and awakened sinners were heard to exclaim, ‘lost / lost !’” 
On the next day he held a prayer-meeting with the anxious inquirers, and . 
the foliowing Sunday the slumbering elements of conviction broke forth 
during a meeting in the house of said Wilson, where Bro. Daniel Focht 
preached, having been requested by Bro. Seybert by letter, as the latter was 
obliged to meet other appointments on that day. Accordingly, he came 
with several other friends and preached ; and they continued laboring with 
the penitents till evening, when seven of them were permitted to taste God’s 
pardoning grace. This, then, was the first complete victory in this reform- 
ation; part of Wagner’s family, and some persons from Orwigsburg, 
were the first fruits ofit. The pardoned souls seem to have been thoroughly 
filled with the divine life and with heavenly joy, so that mighty shouting 
and praising of God took place among them. In noticing this occurrence, 
our informant says: “Among them there was a woman of Orwigsburg, who 
wrestled and prayed so violently in her anguish of soul, and was then so 
richly filled with the love of God, that her husband, Mr. Neff, who witnessed 
the scene, was so much affected and moved, that he too made up his mind 
to take hold of the work, and to surrender himself to God. The next day 
he wrestled in an upper chamber of his house 3 or 4 hours with God, when 
light burst upon his soul, and he was so filled with divine love, that 
he with his wife greatly rejoiced in God. Soon afterward we held meetings 
in his house.” It is also stated, that about the same time an extremely 
affecting and melting meeting took place in Richard Rickert’s house, one 
of the two men who had invited Breidenstein to come and preach 
in their vicinity. The weeping of the whole congregation at this meet- 
ing was such that it might have been taken for that of one man. 


During the Winter of 1824, there was a great stir among the people, 
and a number of precious souls were awakened and converted to the Lord. 
Bro. Seybert writes, that on the 17th and 18th of January, Samuel Rickert, 
Joseph M., and Jacob Saylor were converted, all of whom afterward became 
preachers of the Gospel ; subsequently many more promising men and youths 
were converted, who became useful ministers of the Gospel, some of whom are 
still in the itinerancy, while others have entered into the joy of their Lord. 
This region furnished, on the whole, a comparatively large number of candi- 


166 PLES OLY OF de be [1824, 


dates for the ministry, most of whom became very useful. The first class, 
consisting of 25 members, was formed here by Bro. Seybert on Jan. 23, 1824. 
B. Dreher, jr., was appointed leader, and b. Neff assistant. Toward the close 
of this Conference year in June, the number of converts amounted to 40, 
and many more were in a state of anxious inquiry, who, with many others, 
were happily converted at a later period. But unfortunately the first 
class-leader, soon after his appointment, suffered himself to be frightened 
and overcome by the enemy, so that William Wagner was elected in his 
stead. But when the work took such a glorious turn, Satan and his 
followers rose to oppose it by slanders, lies, and calumnies ; the consequence 
was, that in many cases parents were set against their children, and child- 
ren against their parents, husbands against their wives, and wives against 
their husbands, so that the words of our Saviour, “ Henceforth five in one 
house will be at variance, two will be against three, and three against two,” - 
etc., were literally fulfilled. Yet, where the children of God remained faith- 
ful, the opponents were generally won for the truth. | 


Soon after this, Hammer’s, Reifschneider’s, and some more influential 
families, were awakened and converted ; and as the heads of several of 
them were officers in the respective Churches of the place, and enjoyed a 
high reputation, it caused a great deal of excitement. This raised the 
indignation of the selfish clergymen of these Churches to the highest. 
degree ; but the work being of God, they were unable to arrest its pro- 
gress. For several years the work continued to extend and deepen in its 
influence, because these salutary effects upon the morality of Orwigsburg 
and vicinity could not be mistaken ; and that a great moral reformation had 
taken place, could not be denied. Not only such as submitted to the 
influences of the Spirit, reformed their lives, but even those who refused, 
were compelled to change their external conduct for the better, to sustain 
their reputation, as those who obstinately persisted in their sins and vices, 
were respected no longer.—In several families the work of grace commenced 
with a child ten or twelve years of age, and continued until all the members 
of the family had become willing subjects of divine grace. Not unfre- 
quently it occurred that one or more members of a godless family were 
arrested and converted, who would then attest by their pious and godly 
lives, that their conversion was a genuine change of heart, and not a mere 
outward change of life. In short, people of every age: and every rank 
espoused the cause of God ; from the child of ten years to the gray-haired 
sire, some’of whom had belonged to the most honorable, and others to the 
most degraded classes of society. 

In the 2nd year of the revival, John C. Reisner and John W. Miller 
were the regular ministers of the circuit, during which time the work was 
in its best state, the number of converts was doubled, so that at the end of 
the year two new classes were formed, of which Father John Hammer and 


1824. | EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 167 


Francis Hoffman were appointed leaders. During this year the first camp- 
meeting was held in that neighborhood, on the land of Christopher Wagner, 
which was richly blessed with God’s grace and the conversion of many 
precious souls. This meeting is represented as having been so eminently 
blessed, that its equal is not often found. 

Toward the close of this Conference year, in the month of May, Rev. 
William W. Orwig, with his mother and some other relatives, made a visit 
of several weeks to this part of the country, where he was an eye and ear 
witness of the great work of grace. The work itself was something entirely 
new to him, having never before enjoyed the privilege of witnessing any- 
thing similar. His mother was a member of said Wagner's family, who 
were at this time burning with the ardor of their first love, and naturally 
felt a deep interest in the salvation of their children and relatives, sparing 
no efforts to gain them over to the cause of God and his kingdom. 

Nearly every evening there was preaching or prayer-meeting somewhere 
in the neighborhood, and two or three times divine service on Sunday, 
which opportunities were diligently improved during their stay. The exer- 
cises were, on the whole, very lively and powerful ; a great deal of shouting, 
leaping, and praising of God occurred; and in all probability matters were 
sometimes carried too far, as is generally the case at great revivals. Yet 
Mr. Orwig did not then as much as suspect anything of the kind; and 
although he understood not the nature of the work, yet he deemed every- 
thing holy and pure. This visit of Rev. Orwig and his mother, was the 
occasion of introducing the work into his home in Union county, where it 
spread considerably, and has continued to this day. 

In the third year of the revival, Conrad Kring and John Hrly were the 
preachers of the circuit, and the work continued and spread farther and 
wider in various directions. 

In 1826, the first church of Orwigsburg was built, which was the third 
of the Association. From this time souls were converted to God nearly 
every year, though cases of backsliding and other adversities did also fre- 
quently occur. Yet Orwigsburg and vicinity has ever since been one 
of the principal points of the connection, and many who had been awakened 
and converted there, removed to other places, especially the States of 
Ohio and Illinois, where not a few of them became an honor to the Associ- 
ation afterwards. 

A considerable part of the first fruits of the work have long since been 
delivered from all struggle, and in triumphs of faith have entered into the joy 
of their Master. Some of them were already advanced in years, when they 
entered into the vineyard of their Lord, and hence their time of labor was 
short ; but others were called to their home in the prime of life. May 
those, who are still engaged in the noble struggle, imitate them in their 
good works ! 

During this year some doors and hearts were likewise opened to the 


168 HISTORY OF THE [1824. 


truth in other parts of Schuylkill circuit, especially in the tps. of Bern 
and Heidelberg, Berks co., beginning in the families of Klein, Tobias, Loos, 
Deppen, and others. Some of the other circuits also increased somewhat 
in point of numbers ; but on most of them they continued decreasing, so 
that at the close of the year, the increase in all was but small.* 


§ 145. Conversion of the Hammer Family. 


JOHN HAMMER was a highly respected citizen, residing in the vicinity 
of Orwigsburg, and was also a prominent member of the Lutheran Church 
of that section. His outward conduct was moral and perhaps unblamable, 
yet, like Nicodemus of old, he knew nothing af the new birth. He had a 
large family growing up, but all were strangers to the life that cometh 
from God. 

The oldest son, JOHN, became, in spite of a better training, a prodigal, 
a slave to strong drink, and committed such misdeeds that he was at last 
confined in durance vile. Finally he became such a castaway that even his 
comrades in sin were disgusted with him. When the work of conversion 
began in the community, somebody said to him — perhaps jokingly— 
“ John, how would it be if you were to go to these ‘Strawelers?’” This 
suggestion, though spoken ironically, made a profound impression upon 
him, and he went as soon as possible to an evening prayer-meeting. When 
he appeared there the friends felt insulted that they should, in addition to 
all the other persecutions, also be persecuted by this one—as they supposed. 
But John behaved quite decently, became deeply affected, was soon soundly 
converted and proved his conversion by a new godly life. After his con- 
version he retired daily into a somewhat isolated out-building, which soon 
arrested the attention of his mother. She then told her husband of it, 
expressing her desire to ascertain what John was doing there. The parents 
followed him thither and listened—and what did they hear? John was 
praying fervently to God and gave thanks that he had saved him from the 
horrible pit of sin and placed his feet upon the rock of salvation, and 
implored the Lord to have mercy upon his parents and lead them also 
into the way of life. Father and mother became deeply affected, and the 
mother exclaimed, “O God! must it needs be that our Jost child thus prays 
for us?” They now both began to seek salvation and soon afterward found 
the grace and peace of God.—The conversion of John also exerted a great 
influence upon the other members of the family, all of whom were afterward 
converted to God. Many other persons were thereby led to consider their 
ways, and turned to God. So the word of God was also fulfilled in this 
case: ‘ Many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.” (Psalm 
40,3.) But it was strikingly significant of the bitter prejudice and spiritual 
blindness of some would-be Christians, that they reprimanded Father John 





*) Orwig’s History of the Evangelical Association, pp. 115-22. 


1824. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 169 


Hammer, because he had “ permitted his son John to join these wretched 
people!” 


§ 146. John Seybert’s Report of This Awakening. 


Another very interesting description of this glorious work we obtain 
from a communication by Bishop John Seybert published in his biography 
which, although it contains some of the items aforementioned, gives them 
in his own vigorous language, and also furnishes some new details, as fol- 
lows: “The great awakening and glorious work of conversion at Orwigs- 
burg was already initiated in the year 1818, when Bro. Adam Kleinfelter 
was permitted to preach at the house of Daniel Focht, six miles northeast 
of the town. He was the owner and proprietor of considerable iron works, 
a prominent and respected man, By this preaching Mr. Focht was enlight- 
ened, and he and a few neighbors were soundly converted to God. 

“ But persecution arose against this work of conversion and the devil 
raged vehemently in his servants, the unconverted clergymen, who pro- 
voked their blind followers to pursue the sheep of the Lord Jesus Christ 
with villification, lies, and slanders. One of the unconverted church officers 
opened a correspondence with Bro. Focht, but as the latter had the Scriptures 
and the unction of the Holy Spirit on his side, the controversy soon ended 
favorably for the cause of truth. The words of Paul were here strikingly 
fulfilled: ‘For all who will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer perse- 
cution.’ (2 Tim. 3,12.) Parents persecuted their children, husbands their 
wives, and vice versa, and neighbor arose against neighbor. But the work 
of the Lord was like a great fire, which, once started, cannot be put out. 
The despised children of God were engaged almost daily in secret and 
public prayer and became filled with such a measure of heavenly life and 
power and had the love of God shed abroad in their hearts by the Holy 
Ghost so abundantly, that they not only shouted and leaped for joy, but 
also had grace to lead a pious life. By this means one after another 
was brought under conviction. These first members often practiced fasting 
and faithfully followed the Lamb in God-pleasing self-denial. They were 
devoted, fervent, full of heavenly fire in their worship, and walked before 
men in holiness, manifesting humility, and affection toward friends and 
enemies. Bro. Focht was appointed as class-leader of this little band, and 
as he was both pious and talented he soon became a useful local preacher, 
proving an excellent helper when the work broke out at Orwigsburg. 

“On the 15th of July I preached my first sermon in the town of 
Orwigsburg, which was then the county seat of Schuylkill County—on 
Hzekiel 33, 11. Mr. Joseph Zoll entertained me. I preached in the court- 
house where I did not have perfect liberty, as it was the first time I ever 
preached in such a house. On the 17th of August I preached in the morn- 
ing near town in the grove, on Romans 2, 4. 5. 6.; and in the evening again 
in the court-house. In the morning I had a struggle when it was time to 


170 IS TOR KOOL errs. [1824. 


pray ; it occurred to me, it might be more prudent to pray standing, but I 
conquered, fell upon my knees, and God poured his spirit upon me in such 
a measure that I date the great work of conversion at Orwigsburg from that 
morning. A melting power fell upon the people and the word of God found 
way into many hearts and houses. Afterward I placed a stone on the 
spot where I had stood, and engraved the date upon it, so that people 
might see when and where I obtained the victory over the devil, and when 
and where the work of God at Orwigsburg had its more direct beginning. 
Previous to that day everything seemed to be shut up, but thereafter 
there was an atmosphere of liberty, light and life within and outside the 
town.* 


“On the 14th of September I preached again in the court-house, and in 
the afternoon my appointment was in a school-house, but it was found to 
have been locked and the windows nailed fast. A certain clergyman had 
caused this; but a poor despised (colored) man let me into his house, where 
I preached on John 1, 11. 12, and the power of God was so great that the 
foundations of Babylon now began to tremble on the east side of the town 
for the blessed sermon on the 17th of August was preached on the west 
side. The closing of the school-house caused a great stir, and the sincere 
people rose against their blind ‘ Pfarrer’. From here Mr. Richard Rick- 
ert took me to his house. He owned a valuable homestead south of the 
town, and in his house [ preached on the 14th of October on Revelation 
22,17. From the 4th to the 7th of November I preached 4 times within 
and outside the town, and on the 30th I was there again, whereupon con- 
versions began to take place and there were so many of the slain, that [ 
had to write to Bro. Focht, who came and led the work during my absence, 
On the 7th of December 7 souls were converted in this meeting—in the 
house of the aforementioned poor colored man. 


“On the 17th and 18th of. January, 1824, I was again in this neighbor- 
hood when three young men, Samuel Rickert, Joseph M, Saylor, and Jacob 
Saylor were converted, all three of whom became preachers in our Church. 
On the 23rd I formed the first class, which numbered 25 members, But their 
first class-leader became unfaithful, so that I had to appoint another, which 
I did on the 19th of February. Now the work progressed rapidly. We had 
remarkable meetings, persons of all classes were converted, drunkards, 
swearers, pipers, drummers, fiddlers and card-players and also fine, respecta- 
ble men. On the 21st of May, I for the first time administered the sacrament 
of the Lord’s Supper to the newly organized congregation, on which 
occasion much weeping, deep commotions, and a blessed waiting before the 
Lord took place. Now the ice was evidently broken, and I was exceed- 


*) When the author was stationed at Orwigsburg, in A. D. 1855, he heard the old 
members speak enthusiastically of Seybert’s overwhelming sermon on that occasion, 
and the sacred spot where he had stood was still to be seen. 


1824. } EVANGELICAL ASSOCIA TION. 171 


ingly blessed as I saw poor sinners from all sides, and of all grades of 
people, pressing to the Saviour. Within four months 40 souls were hopefully 
converted to God, and I could report seventy as ‘newly converted’ from 
my field of labor at Conference. At Orwigsburg a deep, solid foundation 
was laid for the work of the Evangelical Association.” * 

From this time forward Orwigsburg was for many years a renowned 
place in the Evangelical Association. From this wonderful revival came 
forth a number of excellent itinerant preachers, most of whom did heroic 
service in the work, viz: Charles Hammer, John P. Leib, Charles Hesser, 
Joseph M. Saylor, Jacob Saylor, Francis Hoffman and Daniel Berger; and 
the following useful local preachers : John Hammer and Samuel Rickert. 


§ 147. An Interesting Conference Session, and a Memorable Camp-Meeting. 


The seventeenth session of the Conference was held in Shrewsbury, York 
County, Pa., from June 7th to 10th, 1824. John Kleinfelter was the 
Chairman and Jacob Kleinfelter the Secretary. John Breidenstein, Jacob 
Frey, and Jacob Baumgartner located, and John Kleinfelter could visit but 
a few circuits during a portion of the year as presiding elder. Thus the 
circuits York, Franklin and Berkley had no presiding elder this year. 
Henry Wissler and Daniel Mannwiller were received into the itinerancy 
and Jacob Bixler and Frederick Borauf a second time, having traveled 
before. Joseph Long, Abraham Becker, Philip Wagner and John C. 
Reisner were ordained as deacons, and John Seybert as elder. 

The preachers were stationed as follows: 

Canaan district, John Kleinfelter, P. K.; Schuylkill circuit, John C. 
Reisner and John W. Miller; Lancaster circuit, William Scholty and Abra- 
ham Becker. 

Salem district, Jacob Barber, P. E.; Union and Center circuit, Philip 
Wagner, Conrad Kring and Thomas Buck ; Somerset circuit, John Stoll 
and Frederick Borauf. 

(The following circuits had no presiding elder this coming year: York 
circuit, John Seybert and Jacob Bixler; Franklin and Berkley circuit, 
Jacob Kleinfelter, Benjamin Bixler and Henry Wissler.) 

Ohio district, Adam Kleinfelter, P. E.; Canton circuit, Jacob Foy; 
Mansfield circuit, John Dehoff; Lancaster (Ohio) circuit, Joseph Long and 
Daniel Mannwiller. 

The young preacher Jacob Peters died during the year. The preachers’ 
salary for this year besides traveling expenses was $35.88. This was cer- 
tainly no temptation to any one to enter the itinerancy. 

The membership amounted to 1878—which showed an increase of 84. 
This was the beginning of a fresh advance of the work, and during the 
Conference year considerable revivals occurred on Lancaster, York and 


*) Seybert’s Leben und Wirken pp. 89-92. 


172 | HISTORY OF THE [1825. - 


‘ 


Center circuits, besides the great one on Schuylkill circuit. In the southern 
part of Berks county, between Womelsdorf and Reading, where the work 
was still new, it continued to advance gradually, and toward the close of 
the ensuing Conference year the memorable camp-meeting, known as 
“ Ernst’s Camp-meeting,’ was held in that vicinity, which was broken up in 
a terrible manner by a godless mob, headed by their pastor. John Seybert, 
who was present, furnished a report as follows: 


“At last Hrnst came to be in earnest, so that he consented to have a 
;camp-meeting on his land, which began on Monday, May 29th, 1825. On 
Wednesday and Thursday, the last of May and the first of June, there was 
a great stir, awakenings and conversions taking place on the camp-ground. 
Amongst others a poor cripple, who had but one arm, was converted during 
the meeting, and confessed that he had been hired by the mob to stone us. 
But when he became convinced of his malice and sinfulness, through the 
powerful preaching of the word of God, the stones in his pockets became 
too heavy for him, and pulled him, as 1t were, down on his knees for prayer. 
The preaching at this meeting was eminently powerful and full of unction, 
and at length the grace of God became so overwhelming, that sinners fell 
fainting to the ground. These effects were so entirely new, and so little 
understood by the ignorant rabble, that some of them were raised to such 
a pitch of malicious frenzy, that, like famished beasts of prey, they fell upon 
those under conviction, and dragged them from the camp-ground to a house 
close by, where they had an ungodly physician at hand, in order to restore 
their sin-sick hearts, by bleeding and sprinkling water over their faces, and 
to heal wounds that were inflicted by the sword of the Spirit. There was 
also an ungodly Reformed clergyman present, by the name of B. Boyer, 
who endeavored to quiet and console the awakened souls in their sins. 
Around this pastor, an impudent, impious mob of his followers had gath- 
ered, roaming over the woods, armed with clubs and other murderous 
weapons. These club-men the worthy pastor called his sheep, saying that 
he had come to the meeting for the purpose of watching them. But he 
also several times threatened to whistle for his hounds, to chase the foxes 
to their holes. Thus his Church-members were, by his own confession, both 
his sheep and his hounds at the same time. On Thursday afternoon and 
evening, this mob became very numerous. The dismal and terrible night 
had set in, and the sons of Belial, being well instructed by their leader in 
reference to the attack, some armed with clubs, and others in the rear with 
dung-forks, as I afterward learned, were now ready to commence their work 
of destruction. At this time their leader was in the rear, fully assured that 
his commands would be faithfully executed without his presence, 

“ Bro. Daniel Mannwiller commenced preaching from Ps. 7, 12-14 ; 
but before he came to the conclusion, the mob of club-men rushed in 
through the passage between the preachers’ stand and the tents, uttering 
dreadful oaths and threats, and tore off the boards from the lower part of 


1825.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 173 


the stand, after which a terrible shower of stones and clubs followed, so 
that no one’s life was safe any longer. Divine service was at once broken 
up, and the devil and his vassals took possession of the camp-ground. The 
fire-places for illuminating the ground were torn down, and it was altogether 
impossible to keep order. Kntreaties and remonstrances seemed but to 
increase their fury. The mob continued to rave and roar all night, more 
hideously than wild beasts. Sometimes they would bellow like cows and 
calves; then crow like roosters ; then curse and swear, damning their souls 
to hell, while uttering the most terrible imprecations !—Reader ! these were 
mostly members of one or the other of the Protestant Churches, and gloried 
in the genuine faith !—O how we longed for the light of the day, during 
that night! We would often say, as did the prophet of old: ‘ Watchman, 
‘what of the night ? watchman, what of the night?’ But there were also 
some decent persons on the ground, and these gathered around us and 
about the tents. On Friday morning, part of the mob left the ground, when 
the tumult subsided.-—Bro. Ernst, on whose land the meeting was held, was 
that night mercilessly beaten with a club, and Bro. Daniel Loos had one 
thrown with such force against his breast, that for some time he was unable 
to breathe ; and others were severely stoned. Yet God had mercifully 
protected us, so that no lives were lost, which, under those circumstances, 
was almost a miracle.-—Some of the friends advised to close the meeting at 
once ; while others preferred to have another sermon preached—the latter 
course was adopted. I preached, accordingly, from Ps. 43, 3., and Bro. 
Breidenstein added a powerful exhortation ; God’s grace worked mightily, 
and the enemies raved violently. Toward noon we broke up—one day 
sooner than we had intended.” 

When Satan rages he often overshoots the mark, and some of his mis- 
siles recoil with terrific force. So it was here. When on Thursday, June 
2nd, Bro. Mannwiller was preaching, the “incarnated devils’ began to tear 
off the boards from the preachers’ stand, and a fearful shower of stones and 
clubs was thrown upon the people, so that no one’s life was secure. At 
that instant the mighty Lord and Saviour of men graciously saved a young 
man who had been earnestly seeking the pardon of his sins under a deep 
distress of mind, and filled him with divine peace and heavenly joy. This 
young man was Isaac Deppen, who afterwards became a useful itinerant 
minister. ‘“ The wicked shall see it and be grieved, he shall gnash with his 
teeth and melt away, the desire of the wicked shall perish.” (Psalm 
112, 10.) 

“Thus, at this camp-meeting, a violent storm of persecution had arisen 
against the Society. Shortly after this, on a Sunday, some of the friends 
visited a widow, who was deeply concerned for the salvation of her soul, in 
order to pray with her. Pastor Boyer preached on that day not far off, and 
at the close of the sermon news reached the congregation that the fanatics 
were at widow Kaufman’s, for that was her name. Immediately a crowd, 


174 ALS TORS, (OF LEE [ 1825. 


some on horseback, others on foot, hastened to her house, armed with clubs 
and their shirt sleeves rolled up, in order to drive away the fanatics. But 
when this infuriated mob reached the house, most of the friends had left 
already, and the rest escaped this time without any injury. At another 
time, during a meeting at Bro. D. Loos’, the windows of the first and second 
stories were broken by the mob. And some time after, a great disturbance 
took place during a meeting at Jacob Klein’s, where about 200 club-men— 
although baptized and nominal Christians—had congregated. 

‘‘When it had come to this, that the members of the Society could hold 
their meetings only at the peril of their lives, they claimed the protection 
of the law ; they prosecuted some of the ring-leaders of the persecutors, 
together with their preacher. And when these saw what the consequences 
were likely to be, they agreed to compromise the matter without a judicial 
decision, pledging themselves not to disturb our religious meetings here- - 
after. But the pastor alone was not satisfied with this, and afterward 
brought a suit against our friends, claiming damages for his character, 
which, however, was discovered before the court in its true light. He lost 
the suit and had to pay the costs, which almost ruined him. In consequence 
of this, he lost his influence, fell out with his parishioners, was dismissed 
by them, and thereby reduced to abject poverty.—But the reader will be 
astonished to learn, that about twenty years afterward, the writer saw this 
same parson, Boyer, at a camp-meeting in Dry Valley, Union County, Pa, 
with other poor penitents, prostrate on his knees around the altar, crying to 
God for mercy and pardon. But it appeared as if he lacked the proper 
contrition of heart, and whether he ever became a partaker of divine grace, 
the writer does not know, but heartily wishes it to be so. 

“But after all, this persecution served to promote the best interests of 
the believers in those parts of the country. It stirred them up to greater 
activity and zeal in the service of their Master, and the work increased from 
time to time. and has prospered to this day. The history of this persecu- 
tion, and what happened at a later period in Berks and some adjacent 
counties, will fully confirm what has been said in this history, of the moral 
condition of these counties, and the character of some of the preachers of 
those times.*) 

About this time the work made blessed progress on the Lancaster 
(Ohio) circuit. The following extracts from Joseph Long’s diary are 
interesting: “The 12th of July, 1825, I went to Stump’s and preached in 
the evening on Isaiah 3, 10,11. On Saturday I had no appointment; I 
fasted from Friday evening until Sunday morning and then preached at 11 
o'clock on Psalm 84,12. We had a warm time and tears flowed down over 
many cheeks.” On the 17th of September the presiding elder Adam Klein- 
felter and Bro. Long held a meeting, and after the sermon by the presiding 





*) Orwig’s History of the Evangelical Association, pp. 126-127. 


1825. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 175 


elder on ] Timothy 6, 6. a class-meeting was held, “upon which the heavens 
were opened and divine blessings poured out in great fullness. The shout- 
ing and praising of God became overwhelming so that the meeting could 
not be continued. The presiding elder himself then also yielded to the 
divine power and joined in glorifying God.” On the 14th of February, 
1825, Bro. Long had an appointment at the house of Daniel Hoy, about 
which he thus writes: “I retired into solitude where the words of Moses to 
Hobab came to me, and intended to preach from them, but, remarkably I 
could not find the place where they are recorded in the Bible, nor was it 
necessary, for the Lord set a captive free which filled our mouths with 
laughter and our tongues with singing, so that I could not preach. I then 
exhorted from the 126th Psalm.” The following report of a quarterly 
meeting will also throw light upon the manner of working about that time : 
“Qn Saturday, March 12th, 1825, our big meeting commenced at Philip 
Hoy’s. I preached first on Luke 10. 42, Bro. Kleinfelter exhorted after me. 
The Lord drew very nigh and blessed the meeting, and we had a melting 
time. In the evening Bro. Kleinfelter preached on Matthew 6, 9-13. 
Father Benedum (probably a United Brethren preacher) exhorted after him, 
and I followed in English. Then we sang and prayed; several persons 
wept and cried for mercy and others praised the Lord. Sunday at10 A.M. 
I preached on Matthew 22, 1-14; Bro. Buettner exhorted, and after that 
we had the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. At 2 P. M. Father Benedum 
preached, Bro. Schmalz exhorted after him, and Bro. Kleinfelter followed 
in English. The word was accompanied by a great blessing. In the 
evening Bro, Kleinfelter preached on the parable of the prodigal son, and 
after that we prayed with penitent souls. The Lord himself came into our 
midst, and virtue proceeded from Him, healing several souls.”—Thus we 
see how the brethren held their meetings in those years and what blessed 
success attended them. 


§ 148. The 18th Conference Session—John Seybert elected Presiding Elder. 


On the 7th of June, 1825, the eighteenth session of Conference began 
in New Berlin, Pa. Adam Kleinfelter was elected chairman, and John 
Seybert appointed secretary. William Scholty was expelled from the 
Church and “§. M.” (?) deposed from the ministry. John Stoll and Ben- 
jamin Bixler located on account of poor health, and John Kleinfelter, Jacob 
Kleinfelter, Jacob Bixler and Frederick Glasser on account of family affairs. 

Joseph M. Saylor, Jacob Erly, John Hamilton, George Reich, George 
Schneider and Benjamin Becker, M. D. were received into the itinerancy. 
Conrad Kring, John W. Miller, Jacob Foy, and Thomas Buck were ordained 
as deacons, and John Stoll as elder. John Seybert was elected presiding 
elder. In his journal he deplores his election, and says the brethren had 
elevated him to a high station and burdened him with an offiee for which 


176 MISLORYS ORO LAE [1825, 


he was exceedingly incompetent, but they knew nothing of his deficiences 
or they would not have entrusted to him this important position* etc. We 
may confidently believe that Seybert wrote this with all sincerity, but the 
brethren thought differently, and future events fully justified their expec- 
tations. 

The preachers were stationed as follows : 

Canaan district, John Seybert, P. H.; Schuylkill circuit, Conrad Kring 
and Jacob Erly ; Lancaster circuit, Thomas Buck and Benjamin Becker ; 
York circuit, John C. Reisner and Joseph M. Saylor ; Franklin and Berkley 
circuit, Philip Wagner and Frederick Borauf. 

Salem district, Jacob Barber, P. E.; Union circuit, John W. Miller and 
George Reich ; Center circuit, Jacob Foy and Daniel Mannwiiler ; Somerset 
circuit, Abraham Becker and John Hamilton ; Lake circuit, to be served by 
the local preachers, Christian Wolf and Frederick Glasser. 

Ohio district, Adam Kleinfelter, P. E.; Lancaster circuit, Joseph Long 
and George Schneider; Mansfield circuit, John Dehoff; Canton circuit, 
Henry Wissler. 

The membership now numbered 2039, an increase over the previous 
year of 161. A great many more members were received during the past 
Conference year, but owing to great losses which remain unexplained the 
Association remained small in numbers. 

During this year the work increased chiefly on Schuylkill, Lancaster, 
York and Somerset circuits. The other fields were either increasing but 
slowly, or else decreasing, which was particularly the case with the three 
western circuits in Ohio. The former hindrances to the spread of the 
work had not yet been fully removed, but generally matters took a better 
turn. 


Conference ordered that an edition of 1,000 copies of the small hymn- 
book called “ Die Geistliche Viole’ with an addition of eight hymns be 
published. 


‘« For several years the annual small salary of the ministers had been 
about the same, and yet no special efforts were made to increase it. It 
appears as if the brethren considered it neither prudent nor expedient, to 
say much on this subject in public, nor to explain and enforce the duty of 
liberality to the members in private; although the many locations that 
occurred every year, plainly demonstrated to them and to every one the 
insufficiency of their support. How was it possible, that a man, on whom 
devolved the support of a family, could, for any length of time, live on a 
salary of from $35 to $40 annually, unless he had other means of support ? 
This, however, was not frequently the case, nor is it so to-day. Although 
the Gospel expressly says, that a laborer is worthy of his hire, and that he 
who preaches the Gospel, shall also live by it; yet these men were com- 


*) Life of Bishop Seybert, pp. 93-94. 


1825. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 177 


pelled to earn their living in some other way. Jt should be remarked, 
however, that during those years when the preachers’ salary had sunk to the 
freezing point, the monetary affairs of the country were in a very unsettled 
condition, and that provisions were then very cheap, so that one dollar would 
go as far as two or three had done before or did again afterward. Hence 
the support was, after all, as good in those duys as it was afterward ; with 
this difference, that preachers who had traveled five years or more, did 
subsequently draw twice the amount, that single itinerants received for their 
support.* 


§ 149. The Chief Cause of Small Salaries. 


At last there appears in the above extract a slight indication of the 
chief cause why the salaries of the preachers were so small during those 
years of trial and still a few years after. It is but just toward our people 
of those times to remark once more that since the close of the wars in 
America and Kurope (in 1815) an unexampled financial and commercial 
crisis depressed everything for the space of at least 10 years, of which the 
fathers often spoke in later years. The best representations of the great 
misery, we find in the speeches of the Hon. Henry Clay, Speaker of the 
House of Representatives, in the Congress of 1823-24, and Col. Thomas H. 
Benton of Missouri. Mr. Clay said among other things: “The general 
distress which pervades the whole country is forced upon us by numerous 
facts of the most incontestable character. It is indicated by the diminished 
exports of native produce; by the depressed and reduced state of our 
foreign navigation ; by our diminished commerce ; by successive unthreshed 
crops of grain perishing in our barns for want of a market; by the alarm- 
ing diminution of the circulating medium ; by a universal complaint of the 
want of employment and a consequent reduction of the wages of labor ; 
* * * and above all, by the low and depressed state of the value of almost 
every description of property in the nation, which has, on an average, sunk 
not less than about fifty per cent. within a few years. * * * It is most 
painful to me to dwell on the gloom of this picture. But I have exagger- 
ated nothing. Perfect fidelity to the original would have authorized me to 
throw on deeper and darker hues.” 


Mr. Benton spoke as follows :—“ No price for property or produce. No 
sales but those of the sheriff and the marshal. No purchasers at execution 
sales but the creditor, or some hoarder of money. No employment for 
industry—no demand for labor—no sale for the produts of the farm—no 
sound of the hammer, but that of the auctioneer knocking down property, 
Stop laws—property laws—replevin laws—stay laws—loan office laws, the 
‘intervention of the Legislature between the creditor and the debtor—this 
was the business of the Legislatures in three-fourths of the States of the 


*) Orwig’s History of the Evangelical Association, pp. 128. 


178 HISTORY OF THE [1826. 


Union. * * * No medium of exchange but depreciated paper, no change 
even, but little bits of foul paper, marked so many cents and signed by 
some tradesman, barber or inn-keeper, exchanges deranged to the extent of 
fifty or one hundred per cent. Distress, the universal cry of the people. 
Relief, the universal demand, thundered at the doors of all Legislatures, 
State and Federal !” 

Is it any wonder then that those modest brethren of the Evangelical 
Association did not venture to say much concerning their support under 
such a long-continued extreme depression of all kinds of business and 
commerce ? The fact is there was scarcely any money in circulation and 
business was nearly stopped. Gold and silver mines had not as yet been 
discovered in the United States, and the young nation was dependent upon 
Mexico, Peru and other South American States for hard money. Banks . 
were but few in existence and their paper mostly below par or worthless, 
But as produce was very cheap, and preachers wore mostly home-made 
clothes and were boarded free among the friends, their salary of $30—-$40 in 
money amounted practically to perhaps three times as much as those sums 
indicate. 


§ 150. The Annual and General Conferences Held Jointly. 


In the year 1826 the Annual and General Conference were again held 
jointly in New Berlin, Pa., beginning on the 5th of June, The previous 
session had been held in the year 1820 and thus the sessions of these two 
General Conferences were held six years apart. At that time there was no 
regular time fixed for the General Conference. It convened when circum- 
stances and Church affairs seemed to demand a session. 

John Seybert was elected President, and John C. Reisner appointed 
Secretary of this Conference. 

William W. Orwig furnishes the following report of the main points of 
the transactions of this General Conference :— 

“1. Resolved, That hereafter an Annual Conference of local preachers 
be held on every presiding elder district, in order to inquire into the conduct 
and doctrine of every local preacher. These Conferences were always to 
be held shortly before the Annual Conference, and an exact report of their 
minutes was to be laid before the latter body. But it appears, that these 
Conferences were never generally introduced, as it was scarcely practical to 
bring all the local preachers of a presiding elder district together annually. 
Afterward these Conferences were ordered to be held on every circuit, and 
this has been the practice to this day.* 

“2. The formation of the second Annual Conference of the itinerancy 
out of the Ohio presiding elder district. The great distance of that district 


*) In later years they were discontinued. 


1826.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 179 


from the places where the Annual Conference usually met, and the inconve- 
nience to its preachers, of taking so long and expensive a journey, in order 
to attend the sessions, were some of the principal reasons for forming a new 
Conference there. This Conference was then called the “ Western Confer- 
ence,’ and the former the “ Hastern”’ which names they retained until the 
formation of three Conferences in 1839. As the new Conference numbered 
at first but few itinerants, whom the “ Kastern Conference ”’ was still required 
partly to furnish, it remained for years in a state of dependency on the 
latter body, transmitting through a delegate a copy of its annual minutes 
for revision, at the same time drawing an amount of funds from the older 
Conference, which enabled it to place its members on an equal financial 
basis with the members of the old Conference.* Not until 1836 was 
the dependency of the “Western Conference ” discontinued, with regard to 
its minutes, and not before 1839, with regard to its funds. In all other 
respects, the Western Conference had all the rights and privileges of an 
annual Conference, conformably to the Discipline in those days. It kepta 
record of its minutes, although the Eastern Conference recorded them also. 
During the period of its dependency, the new Conference always held its 
annual session one month prior to that of the parent body, so that its min- 
utes might be prepared and laid before that body in due time. 


“ 3. A-resolution that on every circuit, wherever practicable, a parsonage 
be built or bought, by voluntary contributions,—This had been recommended 
once or twice before, but the former resolutions, as well as the present, 
remained unheeded. Of late years this recommendation has been repeated 
and carried out to some extent, but up to this day much remains to be done 
in this matter. In consequence of the want of proper residences for itiner- 
ants having families, they were often compelled to hire houses that were 
either too large or too small ; sometimes only a few rooms, and at times 
they could not get even these. This was the principal reason why some of 
the preachers, who were able to do so, purchased residences, thus hoping to 
escape the difficulty in question ; but instead of succeeding, they frequently 
only increased their inconvenience, as they could not always receive their 
appointments near their respective homes, so that they were subjected to a 


*) That it was necessary to render assistance to this feeble Conference which was 
situated in a wilderness among fresh settlers, is very evident from their first annual 
account of 1827 as it stands in the Conference journal: 

“The total contributions were reported as follows: 


Contributions. Traveling expenses. 
WORGDINEHIUSN. occ ha Cece cas aes ce CVO DG et. Saric se ac tem seineis saistacems $2.29 
BYANCIO(HOUINSI: salts ss ses cs e's PPA sa Cesle se Nnelats wanes 5.17 
CONTA ORTING tos ines a tle sce od ODL AD tinaleiale eels! eewwidesatceas ¢niale 3.27 
Joseph M. Saylor ............... PALO Malslace ssid eine bh da stataeins hee's etapa 5.19 
PACOH ETOYS Du tecen a iiclels whine ied ke ATO Wain Uy Actin waders sot stale Rising aesaiees 4.39 
Adam Kleinfelter................ PSOO Nats cise ttlale ea klnthivian aula eeeateane 6.60 


N.B. Each one kept what he had received.” 


180 TTISL ORY) OL NAIL es [1826. 


sreat loss of time, by going to and coming from their fields oflabor. More- 
over, the work itself was made to suffer by this cause, as preachers with 
families, in order to favor them, were often not sent to places where their 
talents were more particularly required. On several districts, some were 
changed for years in succession on a few circuits, which were close by their 
homes, till in some cases they had been three, four times, and even oftener, 
on the same circuit,—an arrangement with which the members were not 
always pleased.” 


§ 151. Transactions 01 the Annual Conference. 


The business of this nineteenth session of the Annual Conference was 
transacted in the usual order. 

Jacob Foy located on account of feeble health ; John Dehoff, Frederick . 
Borauf and Benjamin Becker on account of family Ase 

Francis Hoffman and Samuel Tobias were received on trial ante the 
itinerancy. Henry Wissler, Daniel Mannwiller and Michael Hassler were 
, ordained as deacons; Philip Wagner, John C. Reisner and Joseph Long 
as elders. 

The stationing of the preachers resulted as follows : 

Canaan district, John Seybert, P. E.; Schuylkill circuit, Thomas Buck 
and George Schneider ; Lancaster circuit, John W. Miller; York circuit, 
Abraham Becker and James Brewer ; Franklin and Berkley circuit, Daniel 
Mannwiller and John Hamilton. 

Salem district, Jacob Barber, P. E.; Union circuit, John C. Reisner ; 
Center circuit, Philip Wagner and Samuel Tobias ; Somerset circuit, Henry 
Wissler, George Reich and Jacob Frey ; Lake circuit, John Erly. 

Ohio district, Adam Kleinfelter, P. E.; Lancaster circuit, Conrad Kring 
and Joseph M. Saylor; Mansfield and Canton circuit, Joseph Long and 
Francis Hoffmann. 

The membership now amounted to 2207, the increase was 168. The 
preachers salary was $38.46. 

This also had been a highly blessed year, and most of the circuits had 
increased considerably, with the exception of Center, Somerset, and Lake 
circuits, and some of those in Ohio. In the preceding Conference year, 
John Seybert, presiding elder, explored Mahantango and Lykens Val- 
ley, and sought out the first preaching places there ; and in this year 
he secured some in Deep Creek Valley also, where he formed a class 
shortly afterward. These and the surrounding valleys were, at that time, 
generally in a very dark and deplorable moral condition ; and the work of 
grace met at first with great opposition, but extending more and more, it 
finally effected a general reformation among the inhabitants.—Since that 
time many a flourishing class has been formed in these valleys, and many 
a new church erected. Darkness has since, to a great extent, given Aish 
and the morality of the people has risen to a higher standard. 


1826.] EVANGELICAL 21SSOCIA TION, 181 


During this year, old Union circuit also revived in some places and 
extended its boundaries somewhat, after it had, as it were, been checked or 
even retrograded for some years. In the preceding Conference year, the 
Brethren John W. Miller and George Reich had already found open- 
ings in Hartley and West Buffalo townships, which had resulted from the 
glorious revival in Orwigsburg some years before, and their preaching made 
deep impressions on many, some of whom were awakened and enlightened. 
But in this year they were brought to a decision by the powerful preaching 
of John ©. Reisner, and quite a number were brought into the liberty of 
the children of God, and a considerable class was formed. Amongst the 
families there, who first received the preachers, and joined the Evangelical 
Association, were those of A. and G. Orwig, and that of J. Brickley, sen. 
and jr., and some others soom after. William W. Orwig, too, was among 
the first of the redeemed of the Lord in that neighborhood.— Afterward the 
work of grace extended still farther, and furnished three itinerant and two 
local preachers, besides a considerable number of useful laymen, many of 
whom have since died triumphantly in the Lord. Also in some other parts 
of the circuit awakenings took place. 


§ 152. Formation ofthe First Class in Lebanon, Pa. 


During this year the first class of the Society at Lebanon, Pa., was 
formed by John Seybert. This town and vicinity had formerly been very 
corrupt and ungodly. All kinds of sins and vices were the order of the 
day, with few exceptions, both among professors and non-professors of 
religion ; the preachers as well as the members of the Churches were worldly- 
minded, living in a state of impenitency, after the fashion of this world. 
Two years previous to the formation of the first class there, a considerable 
revival had taken place, of which Felix Licht, a Mennonite preacher, Philip 
Breidenstein, and his son John, were the principal instruments. Many 
were roused out of their lethargy, and began to inquire earnestly for the 
way of salvation. For some years they kept aloof from all Christian 
denominations, having been warned most emphatically against uniting 
with any of them by certain preachers, who were known as Liberty men, 
Universals, ete. 

But finally some of them discovered, that without an organization, and 
the introduction of a good Church Discipline, the work could not possibly 
flourish for any considerable length of time, and therefore expressed a desire 
to unite with one of the Christian denominations, But others protesting 
violently against it, no one ventured to take the initiatory step, till John 
Seybert made the attempt and formed a class of 12 members, who elected 
Henry Fisher as their leader. The members of this class were: Henry 
Fisher, George Reinoehl and wife, Henry Bauman and wife, John Marland 
and wife, David Fisher, Elias Stoever, Jacob Borkert, Barbara Riegel, and 
Freenica Licht.—Subsequently this class increased from time to time, gain- 


182 HISTORY OF THE [1827. 


ing a firmer footing and has existed to this day. Among the first there, 
who had received the Evangelical preachers, were Abraham Licht, sen., and 
George Reincehl, The former was a Mennonite, a man of considerable 
property and influence ; and, though he never united with the Society, yet 
he was its friend, and the preachers always found a pleasant home under 
his roof. He lived at a small distance from town; George Reinehl lived 
in town. In 1830, the first church of the Society there was built, and con- 
secrated on the 26th of September. Henry Niebel preached the dedicatory 
sermon from Ps. 93, 5., speaking 24 hours with great perspicuity and 
effect.* From this time the work progressed rapidly, and extended more 
and more. 

John Vandersall, formerly an itinerant, and John Schneider, a local 
preacher, finished their earthly career in the Lord, during this year. Both 
had been pious and useful men in the Church. 


§ 153. Two Conferences. 


In the year 1827 two Annual Conference Sessions were held for the first 
time in the Evangelical Association, viz., the ‘“‘ Hastern” and the “ Western,” 
and this was continued annually until the division of the work into three 
Conferences.t 


The Western Conference began its first session May 5th, 1827, in 
the house of Henry Rauch, Wayne Co., Ohio. Adam Kleinfelter was 
elected Chairman, and Joseph Long appointed Secretary. Six itinerant and 
seven local preachers, who had previously traveled, were present. Thenew 
Conference already numbered ten elders, four deacons, and ten probationers, 
making a sum total of twenty-four, most of whom however, had emigrated 
from Pennsylvania. The membership numbered 523. Conrad Kring was 
ordained as elder, and Joseph M. Saylor as deacon. Conference elected no 


*) It ig said that during the erection of this church edifice, several of the laborers 
made sport of the conversions that would probably take place in this church. One 
of the hands, who was somewhat blunt, did not relish this sort of joking, and endeav- 
ored to stop it by exclaiming in his own uncouth manner: “And I will be—if I am not 
the first one who will be convertedin this church!” But soon his conscience smote 
him on account of this oath and he began to fear that the damnation which he had pro- 
nounced upon himself, would come upon him if he did not repent. He could rest no 
more, and the result was, that he was one of the first who called upon God for mercy 
in that church. 


t) In order to @ correct historical understanding of our Conference history, this is 
the proper place toremark that the “Eastern” Conference substantially remained what 
had been the first or original Conference. The ‘‘Western” Conference was formed of 
what had been the Ohio district, which was in fact the missionary field of the original 
Conference and was geographically situated at a distance from it. Very properly the 
*‘ Kastern” Conference could, in this sense, be called the oldest Conference until the 
change made in 1839. The ‘“ Western” was sometimes, in common parlance, called 
the ‘‘new”’ Conference. 


1827.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 183 


presiding elder this year, but resolved that Joseph Long should attend the 
quarterly meetings during the Fall, and Adam Kleinfelter during the Spring, 
instead of a presiding elder. Joseph M. Saylor and Francis Hoffman went 
to the Eastern Conference, taking with them a copy of the minutes of the 
Western Conference and remained thereafter in connection with the Kastern 
Conference. 

As the Eastern Conference, for a number of years, continued to send 
some of its preachers to the Western, it seems best to give the stationing of 
the preachers together. 

This year the Eastern Conference held its annual session at Orwigsburg, 
Pa., in the new church (which was erected during the year), beginning on 
June 4th. Jacob Barber was elected president, and John C. Reisner 
appointed secretary. Michael Hassler was deposed from office for miscon- 
duct and Benjamin Becker located on account of failing health. George 
Mattinger, George Enders, and William Stoll were received on trial ; 
George Reich, John Hamilton and Daniel Focht were ordained deacons, 
aud Thomas Buck and John W. Miller, elders. Philip Wagner was elected 
presiding elder. The preachers were stationed as follows: 

Canaan district, JohnSeybert, P. E.; Schuylkill circuit, John C. Reisner 
and Henry Wissler; Lancaster circuit, Joseph M. Saylor and William 
Stoll; York circuit, Thomas Buck and James Brewer; Franklin and Berk- 
ley circuit, John Hamilton and Francis Hoffman. 

Salem district, Philip Wagner, P. E.; Union circuit, Benjamin Ettinger 
and George Mattinger ; Center circuit, Jacob Barber and George Schneider; 
Somerset circuit, Daniel Mannwiller, Samuel Tobias and J. Allen. 

Western Conference district. The Conference consisting of but one 
presiding elder district had no officer of this kind during the year. The 
fields of labor were assigned to the preachers as follows: Canton circuit, 
Joseph Long; Wooster circuit, Conrad Kring; Sandusky circuit, Adam 
Kleinfelter ; Lancaster circuit, John M. Miller and George Enders. The 
last two had come from the Eastern Conference. 

The membership amounted to 2,567, the increase consequently to 360. 
This was the greatest increase of any year up to this time. The salary of 
an itinerant amounted to $43.44. During this Conference year, however, 
matters were, on the whole quite unpromising. The Western Conference 
numbered at the close of the year 22 members less than it had at the 
beginning, and in the Eastern Conference also some circuits lost in point 
of numbers, others scarcely held their own, and only on Schuylkill, Lan- 
caster, Somerset, and especially Center considerable progress was made, On 
the last named circuit a very blessed and victorious camp-meeting was held 
during the year, on the land of John A. Hennig, at the eastern end of 
Penn’s Valley, where a considerable number of persons were awakened and 
converted. Also in George’s Valley, and other parts of the circuit conver- 
sions took place. The increase on that circuit during the year was between 


184 HISTORY OF THE (1828. 


60 and 70, although the number of new converts was considerably larger. 
On Schuylkill circuit, especially at Orwigsburg, the work continued to 
prosper. 

At this point Bro. Orwig has the following pertinent observations, 
which we insert with hearty approval :— 

“The minutes of the Conferences, show that some of the preachers, 
who were for many years in the itinerancy, never reported a large increase, 
but often a decrease of membership, on their fields of labor, at the Annual 
Conferences. Among that number were frequently such as were considered 
great preachers, although the majority, as far as the writer is able to judge, 
were not entitled to that name. Others again had considerable revivals 
almost every year on their fields, and extended them by obtaining new preach- 
ing placesand members; and those were often of the middle class of preachers, 
as far as talents and eloquence were concerned. Judging from these facts, . 
it would seem that in order to prosecute the work of God successfully, and 
to be instrumental in awakening and converting many souls, more depends 
on God’s grace and the unction of the Holy Ghost, and the earnestness, 
faith, and activity of the preacher, than on his natural gifts and talents. 
Especially much seems to depend on a preacher’s making it his aim and 
object, to exert every power, to win as many souls as possible for the king- 
dom of God, and to preach the Gospel in every place ; or in other words, if 
he knows and feels the importance and responsibility of his calling and the 
worth of immortal souls, so as to deny this vain world and himself, and 
consecrates himself entirely to God and his work, devoting all his time and 
strength to the discharge of his duties. In this way one sometimes accom- 
plishes more in one year, than others all their lifetime. Especially has this 
proved true with regard to the Evangelical preachers, from the beginning 
of the Association, and appears more evident every year. Those who had 
the unction from on High, were industrious and active, always labored with 
good success, and were permitted to see glorious results of their labors ; 
while the powerless, indolent, and indifferent, never effected much at any 
time or place, no matter what were their gifts and talents ; and the writer 
is grieved to say, that the Association has had such individuals as preachers 
in its connection almost from the beginning.”’ 


§ 154. Excellent Measures Adopted. 


- The Western Conference met at Uniontown, Stark County, Ohio, May 
5th, 1828. Joseph Long was Chairman, and John W. Miller Secretary. 
One preacher was expelled from the Church for immoral conduct, and 
Frederick Shower received again as deacon. As most of the preachers 
intended to go to the Eastern Conference, and as there were no new can- 
didates for the ministry, no preachers were stationed by this Con- 
ference which only required that Joseph Long should act as much as 
possible in the capacity of presiding elder for the district. The stationing 


1828. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 185 


of the preachers was then left to the Eastern Conference, merely on two 
conditions, viz., that Adam Kleinfelter be received as a member of the 
Conference committee, and that at least three ordained preachers be stationed 
on the district ; which conditions were readily complied with by the Eastern 
Conference. 

The Eastern Conference held its session again at New Berlin, begin- 
ning June 2nd. John Seybert was Chairman, and John C. Reisner Secretary, 
In examining the preachers, J. Allen and W. Stoll were deposed from the 
ministry. John C. Reisner and Jos. M. Saylor located on account of enfeebled 
health, and Benjamin Ettinger on account of family circumstances. William 
W. Orwig, John H. Yambert, Elias Stoever, and Jacob Hoock, were 
received on trial into the itinerancy. Francis Hoffman and John G. Conser 
were ordained as deacons, and Daniel Mannwiller and James Brewer as 
elders, and Thomas Buck was chosen presiding elder. The preachers were 
stationed as follows :— 

Canaan district, John Seybert, presiding elder. Schuylkill circuit, 
Adam Kleinfelter and John W. Miller ; Lancaster circuit, Conrad Kring ; 
York circuit, John Hamilton and John H. Yambert; Franklin and Berkley 
circuit, George Reich and John Hoock. 

Salem district, Thomas Buck, presiding elder. Union circuit, Francis 
Hoffman and George Enders ; Center circuit, Jacob Barber and William W. 
Orwig ; Somerset circuit, Jacob Brewer and George Mattinger; Lake cir- 
cuit, P. Wagner. 

Western Conference district, Joseph Long, presiding elder. Canton 
circuit, Daniel Mannwiller and Samuel Tobias ; Lancaster circuit, Henry 
Wissler and Elias Stoever ; Sandusky circuit, George Schneider. 

The membership amounted to 2,677, which shows an_ increase 
of only 110 during the previous year; the salary of the preachers was 
$41.76. 

The Conference resolved, that hereafter married preachers having trav- 
eled five years or longer, shall draw as much salary for their families as for 
themselves, or in other words, as much again as a single itinerant ; and it 
was enjoined on them, at the same time, to exert themselves to increase 
the contributions toward the support of the ministers. 

These two enactments were of great importance to the itinerancy of 
the Society, and contributed a great deal to its increase and strength. 
During the last twelve years, since 1816, the itinerancy had gained but one 
preacher in point of numbers, and during the last eight years none at all. 
In 1816, the number of itinerants was 21, in 1820 22, and in 1828 likewise 
22. During this period, the work had, geographically, increased but little, 
although somewhat in point of numbers. But from this period, evidently 
a cnange for the better took place. Only three years afterward, the Asso- 
ciation numbered 34 itinerants, and 3580 members, an increase of 12 
preachers and 903 members in three years ; while in eight years from 1820 


186 HISTORY OF THE [1828. 


to 1828, the number of itinerants had remained the same, and the increase 
of the membership had been but 685. We are, indeed, not prepared to 
attribute this better success exclusively to the better support of the minis- 
ters; yet we doubt not, that this measure met with the approbation of the 
Most High, and caused His richest blessings to rest upon the work. Under 
this new arrangement, those of the married preachers, who lived very 
economically and met with no accidents and losses, were at least enabled 
to get on without involving themselves in debts, or sacrificing their 
private property, if they had any ; for the salary soon increased somewhat ; 
the preachers frequently received presents, and provisions were very 
cheap in those days. But yet, not all succeeded so well; and hence 
still many were compelled to follow some secular business in connection 
with their high calling, in order to procure a livelihood. This, however, 
proved detrimental to them in the discharge of their duties ; for, it not only 
took up that portion of their time, which they should have devoted to 
reading and study, but it also frequently gave offence to some. Others, 
again, desired to mend matters by locating for one or two years; but these 
one or two years frequently grew into five or ten, while others clung to 
their secular employment all their lives long, so that they never again made 
their appearance in the itinerancy. This circumstance has ever been a great 
impediment to the Association, both with regard to its spread, and the 
increase of its itinerancy. But on the other hand, it can scarcely be denied 
either, that many left the field and returned to the world, not so much for 
want of an adequate support, as for a spirit of worldliness, a want of faith and 
the spirit of self-denial. Thus it happened, that some would preach a year or 
two, and then locate ; and so on to the end of their lives ; accomplishing, 
in this way, but little either in the world or in the kingdom of God. Those, 
on the contrary, who esteemed their honorable and important calling higher 
than all honors and conveniences of this world ; who, under all trials, man- 
fully persevered in self-denial, fidelity, and activity, and, like St. Paul, 
suffered not poverty, want, hunger, or nakedness, either to hinder them 
from the discharge of their duties much less to drive them from the field, these. 
fared best, on the whole, and secured the greatest renown. Another disastrous 
consequence was, that they were unable to purchase proper libraries, to 
foster that spirit of reading and research, so indispensably necessary to the 
minister of the Gospel, in order to store his mind with useful information, 
and to enable him at all times to bring forth things new and old. In con- 
sequence of this inadequate support, it was in earlier days not a rare occur- 
rence, that our itinerants had, besides the Bible, Hymn-Book, and Discipline, 
scarcely a few dollars’ worth of good books; and, as some of these were, 
nevertheless, generally able to preach at least powerfully, others seemed to 
have imbibed the notion, that a preacher’s reading and study were of little 
or no importance to him, provided he prayed diligently and earnestly for 
divine grace ; forgetting that one may do this, without being necessitated to 


1828. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 187 


neglect the other ; and likewise forgetting, that ministers, whose minds are 
well stored with useful information, are not only the most acceptable, but 
also the most useful and efficient servants of God. 

The unmarried ministers who, besides their horses, were kept by the 
friends the whole year, without charge, did not feel the effects of the meager 
support so keenly, and for this reason would sometimes generously distribute 
their salary among their more indigent brethren, being satisfied with food 
and clothing. Under these circumstances, but few preachers were able to 
set their societies an example with regard to liberality, although many of 
them contributed largely in proportion to their means, and even beyond 
them, to the support of every good cause ; especially since the building of 
churches has become more general in the connection, and the missionary 
cause has received its due share of attention. With very few exceptions, 
there is perhaps no other body of clergymen to be found in Christendom, 
who contribute more liberally in proportion to means and circumstances, 
than the itinerants of the Evangelical Association,—though some of them 
are very poor, yet they generally give freely. — Many improvements, how- 
ever, have since been made in the arrangements of the Association, so that 
at present the support of the preachers is generally such that scarcely any 
need leave the field for want of support.* 


$155. Progress of the Western Conference. 


During the current year the small Western Conference made excellent 
progress ; she received 147 new members, while the Eastern had much less 
increase, The work spread extensively on Canton circuit, which was being 
traveled by Daniel Mannwiller and Samuel Tobias. Among the docu- 
ments collected by John Dreisbach we find the following report :— 

“The preachers entered on their large field of labor in humble reliance 
on the help of God, with the resolution to labor for His glory and the 
welfare of their fellow-men, and, if possible, to bring about a better state 
of things on the circuit, as not a few of the members were in a state of 
lukewarmness. Hence they began to denounce that cold formality in public 
worship, and to exhort the membership to fulfill their duties zealously, and 
to be diligently engaged in every good work. Mannwiller is said to have 
once made use of the following expression: ‘By the help of God, I am 
determined, if possible, to bring the circuit into a better state.’ Thus they 
continued preaching the word of God faithfully and in its purity, till the 
camp-meeting was held on Bro. J. Hegerman’s land, in Wayne Co., Ohio, 
where God’s grace was so powerfully manifested, that a glorious revival of 
religion took place. The excitement was uncommonly great. One evening 
during an exhortation, almost the whole assembly was deeply moved, and 
penitent sinners came from all directions to seek in prayer the forgiveness 


*) Orwig’s History, etc., pp. 137, 141. * 


188 HISTORY OF THE [1829. 


of their sins ; and there was such a flame of sacred love kindled in all 
Christian hearts, but lately so lukewarm, that from that moment to its close, 
the meeting was remarkably blessed. The holy fire then spread over the 
whole circuit, and the consequence was that the meetings everywhere became 
interesting, and many a precious soul was hopefully converted to God. 
Among these subjects of converting grace, was John Resner, who after- 
ward became an itinerant, and as a faithful servant has since entered into 
the joy of his Lord.” 

On the other circuits of this district the brethren also labored with 
great success during the year; also on several circuits of the Eastern Con- 
ference, especially those of Schuylkill, Lancaster and York. At the close 
of the year Schuylkill circuit numbered 473 members and had in point of 
numbers reached its climax. In the following year a considerable part of 
Schuylkill circuit was cut off and added to a new circuit. Lancaster and 
York almost equaled Schuylkill in numbers. These three circuits together 
numbered over two hundred members more than all the other circuits of 
the Hastern Conference together. 

Bro. John Stambach who had formerly been an itinerant, closed his 
earthly career during this ‘year. He was a pious, humble man, and his 
ministerial labors were greatly blessed. Also Bro. Jacob Kleinfelter, local 
preacher, died during the year. 


§ 156. One of the Most Blessed Years. 


The Western Conference held its session in the year 1829 in Tuscara- 
was township, Stark Co., Ohio, beginning on the 4th of May. Joseph Long 
was elected Chairman and Henry Wissler appointed Secretary. John 
George Zinser was received on probation into the itinerancy, and George 
Schneider, Samuel Tobias and Elias Stoever were ordained as deacons. 

The Hastern Conference began its session on the Ist of June, 1829, at 
New Berlin, Pa. Thomas Buck was elected Chairman, and John Seybert 
appointed Secretary. Two preachers were deposed from office and one of 
them expelled from the Church. John W. Miller located. George Brick- 
ley, Joseph Ebert, Solomon G. Miller, Jacob Schnerr and William Ray 
were received on trial by Conference. Henry Niebel re-entered the itiner- 
ancy at this Conference. The preachers were stationed as follows : 


| EASTERN CONFERENCE. 

Canaan district, Thomas Buck, P. EK. Schuylkill circuit, Conrad Kring 
and Joseph Ebert ; Lebanon circuit, Henry Niebel and William W. Orwig ; 
Lancaster circuit, Joseph M. Saylor and George Enders; York circuit, 
Daniel Mannwiller and Samuel Tobias; Franklin and Berkley circuit, John 
Hamilton, James Brewer and William Ray. 

Salem district, John Seybert, P. E. Union circuit, Jacob Barber and 
John G. Zinser ; Center circuit, Francis Hoffman and Solomon G. Miller; 


1829. | EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 189 


Somerset circuit, Henry Wissler and George Brickley; Lake circuit, 


George Reich. 
WESTERN CONFERENCE, 


Joseph Long, P. EK. Canton circuit, Adam Kleinfelter and Elias 
Stoever ; Lancaster circuit, John H. Yambert and George Schneider ; San- 
dusky circuit, George Mattinger. | 

The membership this year was 2862, consequently an increase of 185 
during the previous year. The number of itinerants was now 26 and the 
salary amounted to $42.18. This year the married preachers for the first 
time drew salaries for their families 7. e. Those who had traveled five 
years, besides their traveling expenses, but among the 22 itinerants of the 
past year there were but four entitled to draw for their families, nearly all 
the rest being single. 

At this Conference a new circuit was formed called Lebanon out of 
parts of Schuylkill and Lancaster circuits, comprising to some extent those 
parts where Albright had been brought up, where had been formed the 
first societies of the Evangelical Association, and extending northward and 
westward beyond the town of Lebanon. This circuit prospered remarkably 
well, outstripping in a few years all other circuits in point of numbers, and 
was afterwards divided into several circuits. 

At this Conference Thomas Buck was elected trustee or treasurer of 
all the proceeds from the book trade of the Association. and John Seybert 
trustee of all the legacies that might be bequeathed to the same. Some 
property had already been bequeathed to the Association and there have 
been other persons since who have devised considerable sums to it for the 
support of poor superannuated itinerants and of the preachers who fall short 
of their salaries. 

This was again one of the most blessed years for the Association. All 
the circuits reported considerable increase at the next Conference, especially 
Lebanon, Center, and Berkley in the Hastern, and those of Canton and 
Lancaster in the Western Conference. 


§ 157. Beginning of the Awakening in Upper Milford, Lehigh County, Pa. 


About this time a revival in Upper Milford, Lehigh County began, 
which afterward extended gloriously, proving a great blessing to many 
souls. 

Among the families in that vicinity who first received our preach- 
ers and joined the connection, were GrorGE YEAKEL, DAviD ScHu- 
BERT, PeTER Wiest and DANIEL WIEAND, and near Millerstown (now 
Macungie) Joun Hirret. At Hittel’s there had been preaching already 
the year before,* but in that part of the country where the work princi- 








*) The sainted Bro. Henry Srerzet reports the following concerning Bro. John 
Hittel, and certain private meetings held in his house. He says: ‘The work which 
Rey. Jacob Albright had commenced in this neighborhood, in later years suffered a 


190 HISTORY OF THE [1829. 


pally began, the first sermon was preached by Rev. William W. Orwig, 


accompanied by Rev. Charles Hammer (both then young men) in the barn 


of David Schubert, on Sunday afternoon September 13th, 1829, which made 
a deep impression On many of the hearers. After the impressive sermon 
by Bro. Orwig, an exhortation was given by Bro. Hammer. An eye-witness 
reported the following: “The barn-floor was crowded with people, among 
whom were some serious persons. To the people generally it appeared, 
however, very strange to hold worship in a barn. Most of them kept their 
hats on and conducted themselves as if a public sale was to take place, until 
Bro. Orwig called their attention to the fact that this place was now to be 
a house of God where divine worship was to be held, and that it was there- 
fore very improper for them to keep their hats on, whereupon most of them 


took them off. The wife of David Schubert was strongly opposed to this. 


coming there of the preachers; she opposed them strenuously and even 
threatened to pour boiling water upon them ; however, she did not execute 
this threat, but was soon afterward converted and died happy in the Lord.” 
CHRISTOPHER ScHUBERT who had formerly attended the private meetings 
at Hittel’s, now also opened his house for the preachers and the work began 


to be established. 
On the 15th of November. 1829, there was preaching for the first 
time in the house of George Yeakel,* and the work of conversion 


temporary suspension, but there were.still some people left who had light and clung 
to the truth, but from fear of the terrible persecution said very little about it. About 
one mile from the present Schubert’s meeting house lived a man named Joun HirTrEeEt, 
where the Evangelical preachers found entertainment and lodging. The brethren 
Charles Bissey, John Kleinfelter and others frequently visited him. He was a noble 
man, somewhat timid and retired in his demeanor; so long as he lived there he did 
not permit any preaching in his house for fear of persecution. During the years 1825 
to 1827 he became more courageous and invited such friends whom he knew 
to be favorable to the cause, to meet privately in his house when the preachers 
stopped there over night. At these gatherings they conversed concerning the work 
of the Lord and prayed together. Those invited were Davip ScuuBeRT, CHRISTOPHER 
Scuupert, Peter Wiest, and Grorce YeakeL. Both of the Schuberts and George 
Yeakel were Schwenkfelders. On one occasion a venerable man, MELCHIOR YEAKEL, 
was also invited, who also was a Schwenkfelder. He had heard Albright preach in 
1796-1800, walked in the way of the light, and like Simeon waited for the salvation 
of God. The good old man was not able to return home that night and stayed at 
Tittel’s. Next day some persons saw him coming from Hittel’s and soon spread the 
dreadful news(!) that he had stayed with John Hittel who entertained the ‘‘Straweler- 
Pfaffen!” This old man afterward gave his Schwenkfelder brethren the good advice 
to cease from censuring and persecuting ‘‘these people,” saying: “If this work is of 
God, it will make headway, but if it be not of God it will come to naught.” These 
private gatherings were continued until 1828 when Hittel moved three miles away to 
Millerstown. From that time on there was preaching in his house. The brethren 
Adam Kleinfelter and John W. Miller made the beginning there.” 
*) George Yeakel now opened his house for preaching, which came to pass in this 
wise. Bro. Orwig one day journeyed from ‘‘Liesser’s Class” near Boyertown, Berks 


ee. Cl le 


1829. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 191 


began to spread, but with this opposition and persecution also arose. A 
fine class was formed during the year, and at its close a great many people 
were awakened and convinced and joined the Church. This part of the 
country lies nearly in the center of the first three classes, formed by Albright 
and not far from the place where he was born and brought up. It 
seems therefore very proper that considerable attention be given to the 
work in this vicinity, and the more so because very interesting events 
occurred in connection with the progress of the good movement in those 
parts. 

In the townships of Heidelberg and Lower Heidelberg in Berks Co., 
the work also progressed, especially in the neighborhood of Womelsdorf 
and surroundings, and also in Lebanon. 


On Center circuit the work was extended, especially in Penn’s and 
Brush Valleys. Many people became awakened and were born into the 
Kingdom of God. 


On Canton circuit, in the Western Conference, the work spread con- 
siderably, especially at Greensburg, Summit Co., Ohio. A considerable 
number of people were awakened and converted at a camp-meeting on the 
land of Bro. Kreutz. Several of these converts afterwards became preach- 
ers. The other circuits of the Western Conference were also extended 
during the year and this Conference gained a firm footing. At this time 
it also received a considerable increase from Pennsylvania, many members 
emigrating from that state into Ohio, During the year, the preacher in 


Co., Pa., to “Walter’s Class,’’ near Quakertown, Bucks Co., Pa., and his way led by 
George Yeakel’s house in the so-called Hosensack in Lehigh Co. It so happened that 
Orwig and Yeakel met outside the latter’s house, and he invited Orwig to come into 
the house, have his horse fed, and take dinner with the family, which invitation was 
accepted. In the course of conversation, which soon entered upon the domain of 
religion, Mr. Yeakel invited the preacher to stop with him whenever he came 
that way, and soon afterward also permitted him to preach in his house. This place 
was in settlement of Schwenkfelders to whom George Yeakel also belonged. Some of 
these Schwenkfelders also came to the meetings in his house. Among them was also 
the aforementioned Melchior Yeakel, who clearly saw and deplored the spiritual declen- 
sion of that body and freely expressed his opinion that the despised Evangelical 
preachers were servants of the living God who preached the word in its purity. This 
aged father was, as it were, a patriarch among his brethren, having survived the pre- 
vious generation, and although he was not a minister he frequently arose in their 
meetings and gave free expression to the truth. The author of this history saw this 
patriarch at the time when he was 88 years of age, and his grand, tall person made an 
indelible impression upon him. Ata visit which Bro. Orwig made to this venerable 
man, he put a golden eagle ($20) into Orwig’s hand, with the remark, “I think you can 
make use of this.” Bro. Orwig took this coin to Conference and placed it with the 
other money upon the conference table—for at that time the contributions were ‘‘gen- 
eral’ and had to be divided at Conference—where the preachers looked at it with 
much curiosity. Many had never seen such a piece of gold, and such a gift by one 
man to the general contribution was something never heard of before. 


192 HISTORY OF THE [1829. 


charge of Lancaster circuit Rev. John H. Yambert, made the first visit to 
the south-western part of Ohio, whither a number of old members of the 
Church had immigrated from Pennsylvania, who expressed a strong desire 
to be regularly visited by our preachers. Although the prospects were then 
not specially promising, with regard to the extension of the work in that 
section, yet it kept on spreading until it extended into the counties of Mont- 
gomery, Warren, Butler, Preble, and at last over Miami and Darke, as far 
as Wayne County in the State of Indiana, till a circuit was formed there. 

During this year Rev. Henry Meyer, a local preacher died. He was one 
of the first members on Somerset circuit, Pa. | 


§ 158. Conversion of Absalom B. Schaefer. 


During this year a man was converted to God who became in time a 
leading minister and pioneer preacher in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. His 
conversion is very interesting and sheds so much light upon the nature and 
manner of conversion in those years that an extract from his diary con- 
cerning it, will be of great value—as follows : 

In the year 1839 Absalom B. Schaefer was appointed overseer of a 
section of the Ohio canal, which was then being dug. Rev. George Schneider 
had been sent from Pennsylvania to Lancaster (Ohio) circuit and came into 
the vicinity where Schaefer was engaged, and made an appointment on a 
Saturday afternoon near the home of arelative of Schaefer in a school-house. 
Mr. Schaefer resolved to attend, and brought an acquaintance with him. 
Meanwhile he had been seriously reflecting upon his own sinful life. When 
the time for the meeting came Schaefer walked through the forest. Ap- 
proaching the school-house he suddenly espied the preacher in the crown of 
a fallen tree on his knees engaged in earnest prayer. He noticed the tears 
ran down the cheeks of the earnest suppliant, and quietly went past the 
tree toward the school-house. “But what a quaking came upon me,” he 
says, “when I saw this man on his knees ; I cannot describe it ; I was at once 
fully convinced that he was a man of God !” In the school-house he found but 
few people ; Schaefer proposed to postpone the meeting until evening, for 
he would meanwhile make efforts to bring the people in. This proposition 
found favor, and Schaefer succeeded in bringing together a large audience. 
He had been so deeply affected when he saw the preacher on his knees that 
he could not cease thinking of it while he was inviting the people. Bro. 
Schneider preached on Acts 19, 20: “So mightily grew the word of God 
and prevailed.” The word had its effect upon him. “I was so powerfully 
affected,” says Schaefer, “that I could not refrain from weeping and the 
stanza came into my mind: ‘Ach, was hab ich angerichtet!’ (Oh, what 
have I done!) I was so deeply touched that the preacher noticed it and 
came to me at the close of the meeting to talk to me.” This sermon was 
one of great awakening power. Schaefer now resolved—“if there is mercy 
yet in heaven for me, I will seek it.” Next evening he heard this preacher 


4 
F 





1829.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 193 


again at a place six miles away. He soon experienced opposition and 
various conflicts, for he was in bad company among the canal-diggers. About 
this time he fell into a ditch 20 feet deep one dark night, and was hurt so 
seriously that he was confined to bed for many weeks. Afterward he 
secured an appointment as school teacher. Meanwhile he sank deeper into 
distress, concerning his soul’s salvation. This change proved to be very 
fortunate for him. Two of the school directors were members of the Ev. 
Association—one of them was John Bright. He now began to number 
the sins he had committed until he could reckon no more—they appeared 
to him mountain-high. Almost despairing he still prayed and cried for 
mercy, resolving to perish while praying if it could not be otherwise. He 
read much in the Bible and prayed also in secret, but it seemed as if only 
the threatenings of the word were meant for him—doubts and unbelief 
tormented him. “In this manner,” he says, ‘I continued until Sunday, 
October 25th, 1829—a day never to be forgotten. In the evening of that 
day, Bro. John H. Yambert had an appointment in the house of John 
Bright, and I went thither. In the morning I had read Ezekiel 18, 21, 22, 
23, by which I obtained a faint hope, and during the day I was out in the 
woods praying most of the time. The burden of my sins became still more 
oppressive. When I came to the meeting the preacher arose and remarked 
that he had already preached twice that day and as there seemed to be 
mostly members of the Church present he would hold a class-meeting. This 
did not please me because I was hungry for the Word of God, but as the 
preacher now related his experience very touchingly it wrought a change in 
me ; the beginning of his experience in seeking religion was very much like 
my own. All fear of man had now vanished and I wished to reveal my 
condition, but he next requested my friend John Bright to tell his exper- 
ience, who then spoke with such deep feeling and earnestness that it deeply 
touched my heart. Now I wished very much the preacher would call on me. 
Scarcely had I conceived the thought, when he turned to me saying, ‘Hriend 
Schaefer, how is it with you?’ But now I was not able to give an answer, 
I broke out in weeping and could only stammer that Iwasa great sinner, 
and that they should pray for me—down I went upon my knees and cried 
mightily to God for mercy. I cannot tell what or how I prayed or whet 
occurred while I was on my knees but the friends prayed earnestly for me. 
After I had been on my knees for about two hours agonizing and struggling 
in prayer, God for Christ’s sake spoke peace to my soul! The great peace 
and heavenly joy 1 then realized tongue cannot express. J experienced 
that although sin had abounded, grace did much more abound. O, what a 
great salvation! I now believed that all men could be saved.” 


On account of this conversion a great commotion arose among the 
people, for Schaefer had a large acquaintance and also many relatives in 
the community. He was persecuted, but this did not deter him. He then 
related his conversion to his pupils, and exhorted them to give their hearts 


194 TIS TORY VOR GLIAL [1830. 


to the Saviour, prayed with them and held prayer-meetings in the 
school-house in the evenings, which resulted in the conversion of most of 
them during that Winter. The noon hours were spent in reading the Bible 
and in secret prayer. He says: 

‘“ Deep snow fell during the Winter, but the pupils frequently went out 
into the forest and knelt down in the deep snow to pray. One could not 
go into any direction without seeing the marks made by their knees in the 
snow! I often went out to pray, but I met so many pupils engaged in 
prayer, that I had to pass them for quite a distance. Oh that was a prec- 
ious time for me!” 

Bro Schaefer soon felt divinely called to go forth and call sinners to 
repentance, and later on he became a successful preacher, presiding elder, 


and a pioneer in the western work. God gave him many spiritual children ; — 


his memory is blessed. 


§ 159. Progress, Persecution, and Victories. 


The Western Conference held its session in the year 1830, in Plain 
Township, Stark County, Ohio, beginning on the 3rd of May. Joseph Long 
was elected Chairman, and Adam Kleinfelter appointed Secretary—the 
latter located on account of feeble health. Absalom B, Schaefer and 
Christopher Aubel were received as local preachers, and William Roebrig 
as itinerant on trial. Louis Hanky and Michael Kibler were ordained as 
deacons. 

The Eastern Conference held its session at Orwigsburg, Pa., beginning 
on the Ist of June. Thomas Buck was elected Chairman and John Sey- 
bert appointed Secretary. One itinerant and two local preachers were 
deposed from office. John Hamilton, Henry Wissler, Joseph M. Saylor, 
Francis Hoffman and Joseph Ebert located. Charles Hammer, Daniel 
Kehr, John §. Himmelreich and Robert G. Hunter were received on trial 
into the itinerancy. The preachers were stationed as follows .— 

Canaan district, Thomas Buck, P. E. Schuylkill circuit, Elias Stoever 
and John G. Zinser; Lebanon circuit, William W. Orwig and Charles 
Hammer; Lancaster circuit, Henry Niebel and Jacob Schnerr ; York cir- 
cuit, George Brickley and James Brewer; Franklin circuit, Conrad Kring 
and Robert G. Hunter; Berkley circuit, William Ray. 

Salem*district, John Seybert, P. E. Union circuit, George Schneider 
and Samuel Tobias; Center circuit, Jacob Barber; Somerset circuit, 
Solomon G. Miller and William Roehrig ; Lake circuit, Frederick Glasser. 

Western Conference, Joseph Long, P. E. Canton circuit, John H. 
Yambert and Daniel Kehr; Lancaster circuit, George Mattinger and John 
S. Himmelreich ; Sandusky circuit. George Enders. 

The number of members reported at these Conferences was 3,245, an 
increase of 383. This was the greatest increase of any year up to that time, 
but as the number of the newly received members was 720 the Church must 


1830. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 195 


have either lost 337 members or those who changed their residences must 
have been counted as new members, which latter seems more probable than 
that so many should have been lost in one year by expulsion or withdrawal. 
But the Discipline was rigidly enforced in those days and not only many 
members, but also a number of preachers were expelled almost every year. 
Nor can it be denied that then and afterward offenders were often dealt 
with too severely—with more patience and forbearance some members and 
preachers might have been saved and been of valuable service to the 
Church. 

The salary of the preachers this year was but six cents higher than the 
year before ; but Conference passed a very rigid resolution with reference 
to the increase of the contributions toward the support of the preachers. It 
had often been the case, that preachers had not collected that amount of 
contributions, which they might and ought to have collected, had they 
discharged their duties faithfully in every respect ; and as they were entit- 
led, according to the system at that time, which put all the preachers on an 
equal footing with regard to salary, to draw equal shares with those who 
had been more faithful, Conference resolved, that those preachers who, 
by neglect of this duty, did not collect that amount of contributions, 
which, in the opinion of Conference, they might have raised, should suffer 
a diminution of their salaries. This neglect of duty on the part of some, 
was one of the principal reasons afterward urged against the system of 
equality, with regard to the salary of the preachers. 

It was contended, that those who either from indifference or from an 
unwillingness to bear the cross, neglected to raise their proportion of 
contributions, should suffer the consequences themselves, and not their 
faithful brethren. This and the fact that in some parts of the country 
provisions cost much more than in others, led to changing this rule so as to 
make the Conferences independent of each other, with regard to contribu- 
tions ; which change, however, was highly disapproved and deplored by 
some of the older preachers. For these and similar reasons, most of the 
Conferences subsequently made their circuits and stations independent of 
each other, in reference to the support of the preachers ; with the exception, 
however, that those who fell short of their due, shall be assisted by raising 
a general collection for them at the close of each Conference year, and out 
of the avails of the Printing Establishment, and by the “Charitable Society” 
of the Association, as far as practicable. 

The Eastern Conference, as the older of the two Conferences, being 
authorized by the discipline to do so, resolved that a General Conference be 
held, to begin on the first Monday of November following.* 


*) The second edition of the discipline (1816-17) for the first time contained the 
clause referring to the “oldest Conference’ being authorized to appoint time and place 
for the next session of the General Conference in case there should be no bishop pres- 
ent at the General Conference. There was no bishop now, and hence this was the 


- 


196 HISTORY OF THE [1830. 


This year was, on the whole, another very prosperous one. Most of 
the circuits were blessed with awakenings and conversions, some more 
than usual, especially those of Union, Lebanon and Somerset in the Hast- 
ern, and that of Canton in the Western Conference. The awakening that 
had begun the previous year in Upper Milford, on Lebanon circuit, made 
rapid progress, and more and more hearts and doors were opened to the 
truth. But opposition and persecution increased proportionately also. 
Hitherto the enemies of truth and light had flattered themselves with the 
hope that the work would either not last long, or at least not spread very 
‘widely ; but now seeing themselves disappointed in their expectations, 
they commenced to oppose it in earnest, at first with calumnies and slanders, 


then by violence and force. It is true, those who had recourse to violence, _ 


were but the outcasts of society ; but being assisted and encouraged by 
some of the most respectable nominal Christians, and by some clergymen 
in the neighborhood, they became so bold, that only by the intervention of 
the law, they could be restrained from carrying their wicked designs into 
effect. They had frequently disturbed the services by being noisy, and by 
other acts of frivolity ; but now they broke one up. On the 16th of 
November, 1830, there was evening service in the house of Peter Wiest, 

but the preaching was disturbed several times by a crowd of ruffians, 

and finally the whole service was stopped. After several ineffectual 
attempts to restore order, the friends found themselves compelled to sur- 
render the house to the mob, and to suffer them to act out their wantonness, 

A scene now followed which beggars all description ; for about two hours 
these monsters raged, cursed, swore, and threatened without intermission, 
in the house; howling, singing, and leaping all the while, so that 
as many demoniacs could scarcely have acted worse—nearly all the benches 
of the house were broken and knocked to pieces. After they were prose- 
cuted and fined, tranquillity was restored for some time, and the work 
spread more rapidly.* At the close of this conference year, a great num- 


duty of the Eastern Conference which, as between the two—the Eastern and Western 
—was considered the older one. This relation existed until 1839, when the Eastern 
was divided through the middle, the eastern half being then called ‘‘East Pennsyl. 
vania Conference,’ and the western half “West Pennsylvania Conference.” There 
were now not only these two new names, but two new organizations and two new 
conference records commenced with the year 1840. The Eastern Conference then 
ceased in every aspect of the case, and in every sense of the word. Two new Confer- 
ences thenceforth occupied her territory and embraced her membership—about equally 
divided between them. 


*) Bro. Orwig was the preacher at this meeting and he also was the plaintiff at the 
court. During the trial the truth came clearly to light. Several of the defendants 
testified that Bro. Orwig had in his preaching condemned all men and all Churches who 
did not belong to his sect, and this alleged fact the defense attempted to use as an 
apology for the breaking up of the meeting. But the cross-examination and the testi- 
mony on the side of the proseeution demolished these false assertions entirely. During 


ee a 





1830.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. . 197 


ber of the inhabitants were awakened, and about 50 professed to have 
experienced a change of heart and to have found peace with God.* 

During this year, Bro. John Seybert, who was then presiding elder of 
Salem district, found open doors in Blooming Grove, Lycoming County, 
Pa.; also in Blockhouse Settlement, Tioga County. In Williamsport a 
family named Rothrock had before this received our preachers, and after- 
ward Henry Hartmann opened his house also for them, and with his wife 
joined the Church. For a number of years the congregation remained 
small, but afterward increasing somewhat when they built a convenient 
little church, | 

In Blooming Grove there was great opposition, Bro. Seybert being 
looked upon as a magician ; in order to get rid of his magic, a number of 
certificates of baptism and a German copy of the New Testament, which 


these proceedings many allusions were made to Orwig’s doctrine; which created a 
desire among the attorneys, judges, and many of the most respected inhabitants of 
Allentown to hear him preach a sermon in order to become acquainted with “his 
doctrine’. He was then urged to preach, but he at first declined, stating as a reason 
that the excitement was already very great so that the multitude that would come to- 
gether could not well be kept in order. The High Constable, as this police officer was 
then called, however declared that he would provide the place for the meeting and 
keep the people in order. Hesecured avery large room on the second story of a 
large building. He then appointed deputy constables and notified the towns-people, 
accompanied with very emphatic expressions, that whosoever would disturb the meet- 
ing would fare badly. “The multitude came together’—high and low—and the 
constables kept perfect order. Bro. Orwig preached with great freedom—young as he 
was—on the words of the Lord: ‘‘Ye must be bornagain.”’ (John 3, 7.), and the Word 
made a powerful impression upon the attentive audience. 

The defendants were found guilty and were both fined and jailed. At the close of the 
trial, one Jacob Heil, who had been the ringleader, said aloud to Bro. Orwig, in Penn- 
sylvania German: ‘Well, Orwig, du hoscht’s doch gewunne!” (‘‘Well, Orwig, you 
have gained it anyhow.” ) 


*) The two young preachers, Revds. William W. Orwig and Charles Hammer, were 
united in the work like David and Jonathan, of which Bro. Hammer speaks as 
follows: 

“We were closely bound together to carry on the work of the Lord, and the rage of 
the enemy could not alarm us. We spent much of our time in fervent prayer and the 
reading of the word of God upon our knees. This we often did in the forest, especially 
in the Summer season, and when we had no suitable room in which to read and study. 
It was then the custom of many of the preachers to read the word of God upon their 
knees, especially when looking for a text and thus also meditating upon their sermon. 
I knew one of our old preachers (Henry Niebel) who entered the ministry in 1809 who 
hore the marks of much kneeling upon his knees and took them to his grave. The 
chief aim was to preach the word of the cross with divine unction. A sermon might 
be ever so well arranged and finished—it would not be acceptable with the people 
when devoid of the influence of the Holy Spirit. And this unction is still necessary 
in our time and day, and is the chief requirement in the fitting out of an Hvangelical 
preacher, in order to administer the sacred office of the Gospel ministry successfully.” 
(Chr. Botschafter, August 11th, 1884, p. 6.) 


198 AISTORY (OF LE [1830. 


had been bought of him, were burned, But in later times our preachers 
gained a firm footing there; many assented to the truth, and a good 
society was formed, which has been in a prosperous condition ever 
since. 

In Blockhouse settlement Samuel Hartmann was the first who received 
Bro. Seybert into his house, and permitted him to preach there. This sec- 
tion of country was at that time very bad, in a moral point of view ; vices 
of all kinds, especially that of drunkenness, were the order of the day. The 
people indeed had churches and preachers, but the latter were like the 
people—godless. —Seybert’s preaching soon caused a great stir in the neigh- 
borhood ; sinners were awakened and converted, houses and churches were 
opened to him, and persecution arose against the work. He paid several 
visits to this neighborhood during this and the following conference year, 
founded a flourishing society, which he added to the circuit, and thus laid 
the foundation of a very good and lasting work, that has been progressing 
to this day. The first families that fell in with the movement, were those 
of Hartmann, Koegel, Sindlinger, Knodel, Dier, Essig, Welti, Schick, Scham- 
bacher, Rupp, Gleeckler, Landis, Deibler, and others. Afterward several 
families removed to other parts of the country, where they received the 
preachers of the Church ; others exerted a salutary influence on their friends 
and relatives, who lived scattered about; and thus Blockhouse settlement 
became a renowned place in the Evangelical Association, although it is 
somewhat remote, and the country rather rough and wild. 


In this year, Bro. Daniel Mannwiller closed his earthly career, after hay- 
ing served six years as an itinerant with very good success, 


§ 160. Important Transactions of the Fourth General Conference. 


The General Conference which was appointed by the previous Eastern 
Conference went into session on the 1st day of November, 1830, in the 
house of John Adam Hennig in Hains township, Center Co., Pa., in the 
eastern part of Penn’s Valley. As heretofore, every elder had the right to 
attend and participate in the transactions of the Conference, but only eight 
preachers who had the right to vote attended, namely, John Dreisbach, 
Henry Niebel, John Seybert, Jacob Barber, Joseph Long, Thomas Buck, 
Conrad Kring, and Henry Hassler. Joseph Long was elected Chairman, 
and John Seybert appointed Secretary. William W. Orwig says that he 
and other preachers also attended but had no right to participate in the 
proceedings. 

He recollected right well in 1887 what difficulties the brethren encount- 
ered in the effort to revise the Articles of Faith and the Discipline of the 
Church—this was, in fact, the chief object why this Conference was called, 
because a new edition of the Discipline was to be issued, and then to be 
translated into the English language. As, however, the revisions were not 





1830. EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 199 


recorded in the conference journal, we insert the following report furnished 
by Bishop Long : | 

“1, The Articles of Faith. The first article had already been changed 
in 1816, and the expression, ‘three persons’ changed into, ‘a trinity. The 
articles 2, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and.18, were changed as follows: In the 2nd 
article for: ‘In order thus to reconcile the Father to us,’ the words: ‘In 
order to reconcile the justice of the eternal Father to us.’ In the articles 12, 
13, 14 and 15, the words, ‘sacrament’ and ‘sacraments’ were erased, and the 
following substituted, ‘Baptism, Lord’s Supper, means of Grace, representa- 
tion,’ etc., and thus a whole sentence in the 14th article was dropped, viz., 
‘that only two sacraments have been instituted by Christ.’ 

“2. The General Rules and Instructions in the Duties of this As- 
sociation, were changed and considerably abbreviated, as they are at 
present. 

“3, The tenure of the bishops was so restricted, that they were eligible 
only for two terms of four years each in succession. Formerly they had 
always been eligible, and this was afterward made the rule again. The 
formula for the ordination of bishops was dropped. 

“4. It was ordained by this body, that hereafter only itinerants shall 
be members of the Annual Conferences, as at present ; before this, local 
preachers also had been members. The power of the bishops to station the 
preachers, was likewise annulled, and it was ordained that the bishop, in 
connection with two elders to be elected by Conference for this purpose, 
shall attend to this business.* 


“5. Among the duties of the preachers in charge, the following 
changes were made, viz.: 1. With regard to class-meetings, that it be left to 
their discretion, to admit or exclude persons who are no members of the 
Society. 2. The following order to receive new members was laid down: 
‘Let them be addressed as follows: ‘Art thou,’ etc. 

“6, The duties of the presiding elders were so changed, that each of 
them became the sole book agent of his district, thus dropping the body of 
book agents on every district. 

“7. The responses in the form of ordaining elders were somewhat 
abbreviated, and the word ‘sacrament’ left out. The forms of baptism for 
infants and of solemnizing matrimony, were also changed. 

“8, The word deacon was changed into minister; and the articles 
against antinomianism and on the final perseverance of the saints, were 
left out. 


*) Bishop Long reported these items to Mr. Orwig, from memory, which, however, 
misled him in this instance. For it was already ordered by General Conference in 
1816, and incorporated into the Discipline published in 1817, that the bishop shall 
station the preachers with the assistance of two elders. (See Discipline of 1817). 

In later years this was changed so that the bishop ‘‘with the assistance of the 
presiding elders’’ shall station the preachers. 


200 HISTORY OF THE [1830, 


“These,” says Bro. Long, “are the principal changes of the Articles of 
Faith and the Discipline of the Church, that were made by the General 
Conference of 1830, as far as I can remember.” 

John Seybert and Thomas Buck were appointed a committee, to pre- 
pare the improved and altered Articles of Faith and Discipline for the 
press; and John Dreisbach and Henry Niebel were added to the committee, 
to examine the whole thoroughly before publication. Adam Ettinger and 
John Dreisbach were appointed to examine the English translation of the 
discipline. 

As the Western Conference still was to a great extent dependent on 
the Eastern, General Conference ordained, that hereafter a presiding elder 
of the Western Conference attend annually the session of the Hastern Con- 
ference as a delegate, in order to bring the necessary documents from one - 
Conference to the other, and to assist in transacting the mutual busi- 
ness of both. This arrangement was to last till the next General Con- 
ference. 

Another important act of this Conference, must not be overlooked 
here. Some years before this Conference, several men had been received 
into the itinerant ministry, who preached exclusively in English, and hence 
could travel only on a few circuits, the others being nearly all German; 
and as fears were entertained, that the English language might prevail, this 
Conference ordained, that the itinerant ministry in general confine their 
labors to the German portion of the population, and that no more preachers 
be received into that body, who had not, at least, some knowledge of the 
German language, 

This resolution vexed and discouraged the English brethren a great 
deal ; and its consequence was, that the English work suffered and lang- 
uished, till finally it died out almost entirely. Thus many parts of the 
country were and remained closed against the Association, as by far the 
most States of the Union were almost exclusively, and the few remaining 
for the most part, English. By a resolution of a later General Conference 
-—that of 1843 —this resolution was not only repealed, but Conference also 
ordained, that our Association shall hereafter labor both for the Englisb . 
‘ad German portion of our population.* 


§ 161. The Revision of the Articles of Faith. 


The present rule prohibiting the change of the Articles of Faith did 
not exist in 1830, hence those eight fathers, assembled in General Confer- 
ence, had the right in the absence of a statute or constitutional restriction 
to do as they did in revising those Articles, and their right has never been 
questioned. Their work in this respect seems to have been on the whole 





*) Proceedings were signed by Jos. Long, John Seybert, Henry Hassler, Thos. 
Buck, Henry Niebel, Conrad Kring, James Barber, John Dreisbach. 





1830. | EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 201 


wise and timely. Several Articles were contained in the creed in the first 
and second edition of the Discipline which seemed to be superfiuous, as for 
instance : “On the Marriage of Preachers,” “On the Oath of a Christian” 
—which were dropped. The rejection of the word sacrament was motived 
chiefly by the fact that it is a Latin word (“Sacramentum”) whose meaning 
is little understood by common people. According to its original meaning 
it is “the oath of unconditional obedience taken by the newly drafted 
soldier in Ancient Rome.” Unconverted German Pennsylvanians, addicted 
to swearing, often used the word profanely. 


The word “person” with reference to the Holy Trinity which was found 
in the first edition was omitted already in the second edition of the Disci- ~ 
pline, because the Bible does not use it with regard to God, and its definition 
as “a self-consistent, free, rational being,” as applied to man is not altogether 
applicable to a divine ¢triunity. The “Trinity of the Godhead, of one 
substance and power and co-eternal” was considered properly and suffi- 
ciently expressive of the Holy Trinity, and this was held fast, not as being 
three attributes or a three-fold manifestation merely, but in the true biblical 
and protestant, orthodox sense of the word— Trinity ! 

The change in the second Article of the words: “In order thus to 
reconcile the Father to us’, to: “In order to reconcile the justice of the 
eternal Father to us” seems to have been intended as an explication of the 
former version but there was nothing elucidated thereby, for the Scripture 
says: “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself.” 


§ 162. Limitations of the Episcopacy. 


The limitation of the eligibility of a bishop to two terms, the abolition 
of the ordination of a bishop, which had been inserted into the second 
edition of the Discipline in 1816, and the power of the bishop to station the 
preachers alone without the help of the presiding elders (which power 
Bishop Albright had)—and all of this at a time when the Association had 
no bishop—was largely caused by the influence of the long-continued and 
vehement agitation in the Methodist Episcopal Church against the almost 
unlimited power of their bishops, which resulted, in the year 1828, in the 
secession of a number of influential preachers and many members from that 
Chureh, and their organization into the “Methodist Protestant Church.” 
Our fathers frequently came in contact with some of the leaders of that 
secession movement and read their special literature—some of which was 
exceedingly bitter—which made them very cautious, if not suspicious. The 
abolition of the ordination of a bishop was a wise step, but the limitation 
of the eligibility of a bishop to two terms was afterward found to have been 
unwise, and was rescinded. And the method of stationing was in course of 
time also re-arranged, so that the bishop has the primary power of stationing 
but the presiding elders are to assist him. 


202 HISTORY OF THE [183]. 


On the whole the authority of the bishop among us is balanced in such 
a manner that he could not be a “pope” even if he would, for his term of 
four years subjects him at every General Conference to a close scrutiny 
concerning his moral and official conduct, and in this respect makes his 
re-election a matter of uncertainty. 


§ 163. The Chief Calling of the Association. 


This General Conference held fast to the truth which governed the call 
of Rev. Jacob Albright, that the Gospel should be preached first to the 
Germans in its purity and power.* Yet this call was never understood to 
be so limited as to exclude the English, just as little as the charge given 
by the Lord to his disciples to “begin at Jerusalem ”, and offer salvation 
first to the Jews excluded the Gentiles. “To the Jew first, but also to the 
Greek,” was the order then, and with Albright and his successors it was: 
“The Germans first, but also the English.” And the fact that the United 
Brethren in Christ had abandoned the German field to a large extent, and 
their Church underwent a transition into the English, reminded our fathers 
very impressively of their chief calling. And the painful fact that they 
had about this time very ill luck with several of their English preachers, 
also had a depressing effect upon the English work. Nevertheless this 
General Conference resolved that the Discipline be translated into the 
English language, thus proving conclusively that they were not inimical to the 
English language. Nor must it be forgotten that the leading men were all 


Americans of the second and third generation, and as such were not preju- . 


diced against the English language. They evidently acted conscientiously 
in this matter, intending to follow what to them appeared the indications of 
Providence. . 

The Western Conference held its next session in Green Township, 
Stark County, O., beginning with the 2nd of May, 1831. Joseph Long was 
elected chairman, and he named John H. Yambert as secretary. A local 
preacher was deposed from the ministry and expelled from the Church. 
Michael Miller, Christian Leitner, and John Roessner were received into 
the itinerancy on probation. Conference now numbered nine itinerant 
ministers (of whom several went to the Eastern Conferences), 27 local 
preachers and 963 members. 

The session of the Eastern Conference began on the 6th of June in the 
town of Lebanon, Pa. Thomas Buck was elected chairman and John Sey- 
bert appointed secretary. One itinerant and two local ministers were 
deposed from the ministry. John Hamilton also was deposed from the 
ministry because he had promulgated anti-scriptural doctrines. Samuel 
Tobias located. The following brethren were received into the itinerancy 





*) The facts and reasons in connection with this have been fully presented on the 
foregoing pages. 


ee ee an 


1831.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 203 


on probation: Daniel Brickley, George Anstein, John P. Leib, William 
Wagner, Charles Hesser, Jacob Borkert, John Campbell, and Henry 
Fisher. Ordained as deacons: John G, Zinser, Solomon G. Miller, 
Jacob Schnerr, and William Ray; and as elder Elias Stoever. Henry 
Niebel was elected presiding elder, and John Rank book-agent. 

Canaan District, Henry Niebel, P. E.; Schuylkill Circuit, Jacob Schnerr, 
J. Young ; Lebanon Circuit, John G. Zinser, J. P. Leib ; Lancaster Circuit, 
Elias Stoever, Henry Fischer. Zion District, Thomas Buck, P. E.; York 
Circuit, William W. Orwig, Daniel Brickley, John Roessner ; Franklin Cir- 
cuit, George Brickley, Jacob Borkert; Berkley Circuit, George Enders ; 
Somerset Circuit, Conrad Kring, Benjamin Bixler, G. Anstein. Salem Dis- 
trict, John Seybert, P. E.; Union Circuit, Joseph M. Saylor, Philip Wagner, 
Charles Hesser ; Lake Circuit, George Schneider, J. Campbell. Western Con- 
ference District, Joseph Long, P. E.; Canton and Wooster Circuits, George 
Mattinger, J. S. Himmelreich, M. Miller ; Sandusky Circuit, J. H. Yambert, 
Chr, Leitner ; New Lancaster Circuit, Solomon G. Miller, Daniel Kehr. 

At this Conference a new Presiding Elder District was formed, called 
“Zion District,” and, among other things, the following was adopted: 1st, 
That no preacher of the Association be allowed to have printed or pub- 
lished any kind of manuscript or manuscripts, unless the same were first 
examined and approved by his Conference ; and 2nd, That an extract of 
the “ Life of George Miller,’ and a statement of his last sickness and his 
death be prepared by J. C. Reisner and examined and approved by T. Buck, 
H. Niebel and A. Ettinger, and be printed. 

The first of these two resolutions was caused by the publishing and 
circulation of a pamphlet by J. Hamilton, which was also the reason for 
his removal from office, he refusing to acknowledge and revoke the error 
therein contained. — The membership at this Conference was 3580, and the 
increase during the past year 335. The yearly salary of a single preacher 
was $55.68, and that of a married one twice as much, if he had served five 
_ years or more as an itinerant. 


§ 164. Conflicts and Victories in Upper Milford and Cedar Creek, Pa. 


This was again a blessed year. Excepting Berkley and Franklin the 
circuits had a good increase, especially Lebanon, York, Center, Lake, Can- 
ton and Wooster. The awakening in Upper Milford increased in power and 
extent, and the number of the newly converted multiplied, but persecution 
also became more vehement, of which the following events, reported in the 
collections of historical information by Rev. Henry Stetzel furnish suffi- 
cient evidence :— 


“In the conference year from May 1831 to May 1832 Bro. John 
G. Zinser intended to preach in the house of John Hittel, in Lehigh 
County, Pa. A small number of “praying people” gathered to hear the Word 
of God, and also some 70-80 persons outside to cause disturbance. Some 
of the disturbers managed to get into the house and caused a great turmoil 
by mocking, blasphemies and miscellaneous deviltry in which they were 
strongly assisted by the rum-bottle. Those on the outside began to rave 


and curse and yell like wild beasts. The mob yelled and cursed and acted 
14 


204 HISTORY OF THE [1831. 


like madmen in the house and outside so that no worship could be held. 
The rabble now ran in and out and then united in stoning the windows and 
doors and pulling down the fences and breaking the doors and tearing the 
gates off the stable and barn. Only men possessed by devils are capable of 
such conduct. Pandemonium reigned. The few friends stood huddled to- 
gether in a corner of the house where the stones could not hit them—no one 
could safely stay in the house nor come out of it to go home. This storm 
continued until late in the night, when some of the rioters left and the 
situation became more quiet. Bro. David Schubert with his daughter and a 
few others then made the attempt to escape and go home. They managed 
to escape silently out into the street but the rioters found them out and ran 
after them, threw stones at them, and insulted them with shameless asper- 
sions and ugly epithets. A madman who rode a horse ran his beast upon 
them, in order to ride them down and, if possible, kill, them, but he did not 
succeed in this. He would ride ahead and hide in by-ways until these few 
helpless men and women had passed by and then he would try again to ride 
them down. This he attempted three times. Now the little flock left the 
road and made their way home over the fields and by-paths in the best man- 
ner they could, and, at last at about 3 o’clock in the morning they reached 
their home without the loss of limb or life. An aged sister—who was then 
a young lady—says: ‘Yes, if God had not protected us we could not 
have gone through it.’ Those were times that tried men’s souls.’*) 


The brethren John G. Ginser and John P. Leib also found an open 
door about this time at Cedar Creek near Allentown, where a respectable 
man named David Mertz received them and was soon thereafter converted 
to God with his family, joined the Church and exerted a wholesome influence 
upon that neighborhood. In a few years there was a glorious work in 
progress which spread far around. 

Rev. Henry Stetzel furnishes the following valuable report of some of 
the details of this remarkable beginning : 

“Cedar Creek is a stream of healthy, pure and fresh water arising from 
a powerful spring, and flowing easterly through a beautiful valley for about 
seven miles until it enters into the Little Lehigh near Allentown. This 
small valley with its clear stream of water, is one of the most beautiful spots 
in Pennsylvania. Here lived Father Henry Mertz with his family upon a 
large farm, and also his son David. The latter was superintendent of a 
woollen factory on the Cedar Creek. The place is four miles west of 
Allentown, where the infirmary of Lehigh County is now situated. 

“In the year 1831 a young man named Francis Gabel, came to David 
Mertz to obtain employment in his factory. It was agreed that he should 
remain and his salary was fixed for one year, to begin with the month of 
April. This man Gabel had been converted in Upper Milford. After he 
had entered the Mertz home as a laborer, the conversation soon led to the 
subject of conversion and prayer at the table and in the family. David 





1832. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 205 


Mertz thought that praying was all right and said that they also had prayed 
heretofore but admitted that it had been neglected— ‘got out of fashion.’ 
Gabel then spoke with them about the assurance of the pardon of sin and 
adoption into God’s family, whereby a man could enter into such a state 
of grace that he knew for himself that he was reconciled to God through 
the blood of Christ, and realized the witness of the Holy Spirit that he was 
a child of God. ‘Through these conversations, says David Mertz, ‘he 
reached the door of our hearts.’ Mertz’s soon fell into a state of unrest and 
concern for their souls’ salvation, and began to pray in secret for the par- 
don of sin and the renewal of the heart. Until then they had not yet heard 
a preacher of the Evangelical Association and did not desire, on account of 
the fierce persecution, to make their acquaintance. 

‘‘ However, toward the close of the year they gave permission for an 
Evangelical preacher to preach in their house. Bro. Gabel then managed 
to secure the presence of Bro. Zinser, who preached to five persons, namely, 
David Mertz and wife, Father Henry Mertz, Francis Gabel and John Hittel, 
the latter having come with Bro. Zinser from Upper Milford. This then 
was the first sermon by an Evangelical preacher in this neighborhood— 
toward the close of the year 1831. But David Mertz and wife were seeking 
salvation until the Spring of 1832, when they found divine peace and joy 
in believing. 

“On the 13th of March, 1832, John P. Leib preached in their house, 
His hearers were David Mertz and wife, Francis Gabel, Susan Sarber, Susan 
Mohr. These were all converted persons and were soon after formed into a 
class. Bro. Gabel was made class-leader and David Mertz exhorter. This 
was the first class of the Evangelical Association at Cedar Creek. Now 
Mertz’s became a regular appointment, was added to the then Lebanon cir- 
cuit and served by preachers of the Eastern Conference. This Conference 
had its annual session in June, The brethren Zinser and Leib were the 
preachers on this circuit from June 1831 till June 1832, hence this was 
for them a new appointment. From June 1832 till June 1833 the brethren 
Jacob Schnerr and John P. Leib served this field ; the following year Jacob 
Schnerr and John Sensel, and from June 1834 till 1835 Joseph M. Saylor 
and Jacob Riegel. 

“The opposition against the work was vehement, for the moral condition 
of the people was deplorable to the last degree. At their public gatherings; 
on drilling and election days, at shooting matches, auctions, etc., nearly 
everyhody became intoxicated ; brawls occurred ; some were almost killed 
and others crippled for life. These gatherings usually ended in a so-called 
‘frolic’ or dancing party. Swearing, drinking, carousing, foul conversation, 
where sobriety and propriety were forgotten, was the order of the day 
on such occasions. Sometimes in the harvest-field such as would not 
drink liquor were thrown to the ground and held fast while brandy was 
poured into their mouths, in order to show that all must drink whether they 


206 HISTORY OF THE [1832. 


were willing or not. Yet these were all Christians (?), for heathen there 
were none in the country ! 

“The pastors (?) of these people denounced the Evangelical preachers 
from the pulpits as seducers, false prophets, fanatical, dangerous men, and 
warned the people urgently not to go to any of their meetings, in order to 
be safe against seduction. The blinded people said all sorts of evil things 
against this handful of praying men and women, which evil-speaking has 
never been exceeded among the heathen. Absurdities that for shame- 
lessness and nonsense could not be equalled were spread abroad against 
them. For these reasons very few people came to the meetings during the 
first two years. Even Father Mertz did not attend, still clinging to his own 
righteousness, although from the time when the brethren Schnerr and Leib 
came on the circuit there was regular preaching there. But after awhile he 
came into the light, found salvation in the blood of Christ and the assurance — 
that he was a child of God. Great was his joy in God. He now opened 
his house for preaching. Almost instantly the spell of darkness was broken; 
and the people came in crowds to the meetings to hear the truth for them- 
selves, 

“Father Mertz was a sensible and peaceable man. He was known far 
and wide as ‘ General Mertz’ because he had been Brigadier General of a 
large division of the militia of the State.* He was also elected representa- 
tive to the legislature of the State and filled other civil offices. He was 
likewise one of the leading officials in the Lutheran Church. These offices 
he discharged with faithfulness and to general satisfaction. He was regarded 
as one of the best men in the State—until he was converted to God and 
admitted the Evangelical preachers into his house—then he was declared 
to be as bad as the other ‘Strawelers’ ! 

“Before Father Mertz had obtained salvation himself, his pastor (B. G.) 
required him to prohibit the preaching in the house of his son David, but 
to do this he could not persuade him. His pastor announced a special 
sermon, and after that a general disputation took place on this ‘new way’, 
and the ‘Pfarrer’ again demanded of Mertz that he should order these ‘false 
preachers’ away from his property. But Mertz replied: ‘This I cannot do, 
for my son and his wife now lead a different and better life than before. 
You know,’ he said to his pastor, ‘that I have always opposedun godliness, 
such as dancing, swearing, drinking, card playing, etc. These people also 
oppose these evil things and in that they are right.’ This was a severe 
battle ; Father Mertz and his son David stood alone against the whole con- 
gregation with their pastor in front. But when Father Mertz coolly and 
squarely told his pastor that he suffered these sins to go unrebuked among 
his people and thus was himself responsible for the prevailing darkness, the 
‘Pfarrer’s’ powder caught fire, and beating the air with his hands he 





*) One of his sons told the author that on review days General Mertz used to ride a 
white horse for which he had paid six hundred dollars. 





1832. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 207 


exclaimed: ‘I have always reproved sin and preached the true Gospel !’ 
Sharply came the answer from I’ather Mertz ‘No, you bave never preached 
that the people could be saved from sin—which is the true Gospel!’ So 
they went on for awhile. The greater part of the congregation declared 
they would not retain any fanatics in the Church. Father Mertz still attended 
services and his Church, waiting for a reformation. But later on, when 
he admitted preaching into his house, he severed his former Church con- 
nection.” 

On York circuit, at Canadochley, a glorious work of grace took place. 
Previously there were but few families there, and the population of that 
section was morally depraved. But now several influential families were 
converted, the work obtained a solid footing and afterward developed 
considerably. John G. and Henry Thomas and their families and the next 
year Henry Burg, John A. Jacobs and other families were found among the 
saved. At the close of the conference year a very blessed “big” meeting 
was held in Seitz’s Church near Shrewsbury. It lasted from Friday 
evening until Sunday evening after midnight, during which time about 25 
souls found peace through Christ. 

On Center circuit, in Brush Valley, and especially southwest from 
Millheim in Penn’s Valley many conversions took place, and the circuit 
increased considerably. In Nittaney Valley an extensive awakening took 
place at which the families Best, Braun and others were brought to Christ 
who afterwards became pillars in the Church. 

On Lake circuit in New York, 160 membere were received into the 
Church during the year. Bro. Solomon Weber reported that during the year 
George Schneider and John Campbell, who traveled Lake circuit, entered 
Hrie County, N. Y., and found open doors in the neighborhood of Father 
Schopp and laid the ground for the formation of Buffalo circuit which was 
accomplished in the following year by Conrad Kring and Jacob Bell. Jacob 
Schopp, 8. Fleischer, P. Schneider, and Joseph Reeser were among the first 
to receive the preachers. Joseph Reeser was the first class-leader on Buffalo 
circuit. 

On Canton and Wooster circuit, in Ohio, 105 members were received 
during the year. 


§ 165. Difficulties and Divisions at Orwigsburg. 


At Orwigsburg, on Schuylkill circuit, in the Eastern Conference, serious 
difficulties arose about this time. A process of purging had been inaugu- 
rated sometime previously. The great draughts a few years before had also 
brought some “bad fish” to land which had to be separated. Besides this, 
a few influential men arose among the members who proclaimed perverse 
doctrines and drew some unstable souls after themselves. The chief leader 
of the division was a man named George Kimmel, who was otherwise an 
honorable man, but very much inclined to new fangled notions and fanati- 


208 HISTORY OF THE [1832. 


cism. He was at the same time strongly self-willed. He deemed himself 
much wiser in spiritual things than all his brethren and would not take 
advice from any one, defying all who did not agree with him, His chief 
error consisted in a literal application of the washing of feet described in 
John 13. as being indispensably necessary to salvation, He condemned all 
who did not perform this ceremony in accordance with his exegesis, as 
being disobedient to God. The brethren bore with him patiently for a long 
time and sought to convince him of his error, but all efforts were in vain ; 
he clung tenaciously to his opinion and sought to defend it at every oppor- 
tunity and to induce as many as possible to coincide with him in his views. 
Finally he fell also into other errors, causing much disturbance among the 
members, so that he could no longer be retained in the Church.* 


§ 166. Hamilton’s Attempt and Failure. 


John Hamilton who had been deposed from the ministry on account of 
erroneous doctrines by the last Conference also made a strong effort to create 
a division in the Church and had made calculations of great success. He 
pretended to re-establish the old “Albright-ground” and to found a Scrip- 
tural Church and not a sect. He actually appointed a Conference and 
expected that 12-18 preachers would attend—but when the time arrived he 
was leftalone. In the beginning a few of the preachers seemed to be 
favorable to his views, but in the end they all left him. He was a talented 
and much beloved preacher. Sometime after this he joined the Lutheran 
Church. 


Through this unfortunate circumstance the English work suffered im- 
mensely, so that it failed almost entirely, for Hamilton had been the leading 
man among the English brethren who at the beginning favored him to some 
extent but afterward differed from him and were scattered. 


James Brewer, one of the old preachers, who could labor in.both lan- 
guages, favored Hamilton for awhile, but did not venture to go with him, 
and himself fell into errors and withdrew a few years afterward from the 
Evangelical Association. His chief error was, that an entirely sanctified 
person had nothing further to do in this world; and hence would be called 
into eternity at the moment he was made entirely holy. This doctrine he 
preached at a camp-meeting in the State of Virginia, in the year 1833, and 
when he was spoken to about it and at the same time complaints were 
lodged against him, he withdrew from the Church during that meeting and 
died soon afterward. It has been stated, however, that he humbled him- 


*) A large portion of self-importance, self-conceit, and self-will and a setting up of 
non-essential side-issues as being all-important in religious matters, are the invariable 
characteristics of the fanatic. Selfishness is always at the bottom. 


OT ae ee 


1832. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 209 


self and became reconciled before his end. It was hoped that he died in 
the Lord.* 





*) Itis of some historical interest to see what kind of constitution Mr. Hamilton and 
a few of the English preachers somewhat later adopted, as follows :— 

We the undersigned, preachers of the Gospel, met on the 28th of September, 1833, 
and adopted the following resolutions, to wit :— 

Resolved, That we will oppose all the evils with their causes, which arise from parti- 
sanship, both in Church and State, and adopt the following rules for the formation and 
establishing of Christian societies :— 

1. That this Society shall be known as the Christian Church, and shail never be 
otherwise named. 

2. Jesus Christ is the only Head. 

3. Believers on Him and infant children are the only members. 

4. The New Testament is the only rule of faith and practice. 

5. In neutral matters each member shall have liberty to entertain his own views and 
also to discuss any subject, but in a disciplinary respect a strict conformity to the 
precepts of Christ is required. 

6. Each congregation, wherever one may be organized under these rules, shall have 
power to receive members, elect officers, etc. 

7. Delegates from the different Societies shall meet annually to deliberate on the 
general interests. 

8. At every monthly meeting a collection shall be taken for the poor, and the pro- 
motion of the Gospel. 


Following are some of the reasons why we cannot consistently join any of the 
existing sects :— 

1. Because A. B. and C. are for Apollos, Paul and Cephas, and only one, D., is for 
Christ. 

2. Because sectism is Babel which means confusion. The different sects do not 
understand each other now, hence we believe, that the day is dawning when the call 
shall be heard: “She is fallen, Babylon the Great, and Christ is all and in all.” 


8. Because the sects labor more for the extension of their boundaries and the spread 
of their peculiar doctrines than for the salvation of souls and the extension of the 
Kingdom of Christ. 

4, Because they disagree among themselves with reference to doctrine and Church 
government. 

5. Because it is a self-evident fact, that each sect believes that it is the only means 
whereby salvation is to come to the world. 

6. Because the evils that spring from sectism have brought infidelity into the world 
and cause its present rapid spread. 

7. Because we believe, in accordance with experience that if the sects possessed 
civil in connection with ecclesiastical power, they would still more persecute those 
who withdraw and differ from them. 

8. Because the different sects are like Pilate and Herod who hated each other, 
but when they desired to persecute the innocent they became friendly to each other. 

9. Because they divide the flock of Christ and thus nullify the object of the Gospel 
and of Christ. 

10. Because we believe that the New Testament is sufficient for faith and Church 
government, which the sects do not believe, or else they would not substitute their 
creeds and disciplines instead. 


210 HISTORY OF THE [1832. 


The session of the Western Conference was again held in Green Town- 
ship, Stark County, Ohio, beginning on the 7th of June, 1832. Joseph 
Long was elected president, and John H. Yambert appointed secretary. 
William Reehrig and J. D. were deposed from the ministry. John Lutz, 
Elias Sichly, David Poorman, Aaron Yambert, and John J. Kopp were 
received into the itinerancy. on trial. 

The Hastern Conference held its session at New Berlin, Pa., beginning 
June 4th. Thomas Buck was elected president, and he appointed John 
Seybert secretary. ‘The examination of the preachers was this time unus- 
ually difficult, because many charges were preferred and fen preachers 
deposed from office, six for immoral conduct, three for not preaching and 
one because not qualified for the office. In addition to these, two more 


were put back on trial. It is however, evident that these ten were mostly . 


if not all local preachers. This was, as heretofore remarked, a time of very 
strict government in the Church, and there is reason to believe that at 
times too little leniency was practiced. However it may have been for the 
best interest of the Church, for before this there had been considerable 
trouble with preachers of a loose character who did more harm than good. 
Thomas Buck, who was a man of great moral rigor, exerted a great influence 
over the ministry at this time, often controlling the brethren as he pleased. 
Many a brother who had been tempted or was wavering or overtaken by a 
fault, might have been saved by a little more patience and kindness. And 
yet this extreme degree of strictness is not so harmful as is the opposite 
extreme of lack of discipline which opens the door to every evil thing. 

Henry Fischer, George Enders, James Brewer, and Benjamin Bixler 
located on account of failing health. The brethren Jacob Bell, Henry 
Bucks, Christian Thomas, Samuel Baumgartner, Daniel Fichtner, and 
Joseph Harlacher * were received on trial into the itinerancy. 

The districts and circuits were allotted to the preachers as follows: 

Canaan district, Henry Niebel, P. E. Schuylkill circuit, William W. 


11. Because in heaven the question will never be asked: ‘‘To which sect do you 
belong?” 
Signed by JoHn Hami.ton, 
Rosert G. Hunter, 
JAMES BREWER, 
Joun Dawson, 
Hrwry Dawson. 

It is very remarkable that Hamilton and his co-signers did not see that they also by 
this very constitution established a new rule beside the New Testament and thus laid 
the foundation for a new sect. That their proceedings were sectarian, is evident from 
the fact that there was neither a divine call nor a necessity for it. The excellent 
discipline of the Evangelical Association was to them, as it seems, the “rock of 
offence.” 


*) The brethren Bucks, Baumgartner and Harlacher became very successfel 
preachers. 


, 
‘ 
“ 
7 
7 
i 





1832.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 211 


Orwig and Daniel Brickley ; Lebanon circuit, Jacob Schnerr and John P, 
Leib ; Lancaster circuit, George Brickley and Francis Hoffman, 

Zion district, Thomas Buck, P. KE. York circuit, John G. Zinser, J. 
Roessner and Henry Bucks ; Franklin circuit, Joseph M. Saylor and Jacob 
Borkert ; Shenandoah circuit, George Schneider and Christian Thomas; 
Somerset circuit, Daniel Kehr and Joseph Harlacher ; Indiana circuit, Elias 
Stoever and Abraham Frey. 

Salem district, John Seybert, P. E. Union circuit, Solomon G. Miller 
and Charles Hesser ; Center circuit, Philip Wagner and Samuel Baumgart- 
ner ; Lycoming circuit, Jacob Barber and J. Young; Lake circuit, John S. 
Himmelreich and John Campbell; Buffalo circuit, Conrad Kring and 
Jacob Bell. 


WESTERN CONFERENCE. 


Joseph Long, P. E. Canton circuit, George Anstein and Jonn J. 
Kopp ; Wooster circuit, Charles Hammer and Christian Leitner ; Sandusky 
circuit, George Mattinger and Elias Sichley ; New Lancaster circuit, John 
H. Yambert and Michael Miller. 

The membership now amcunted to 3,921, which was an increase of 
341 during the previous conference year. The salary of a single preacher 
was $52.29. 


§ 167. The Charitable Fund, Ete. 


This Conference resolved that a fund for the support of superannuated 
poor itinerants and the widows and orphans of deceased preachers should be 
established. For the management of such a fund, John Rank of Union 
County, Pa., was elected as trustee. This was the inception of the Charit- 
able Fund of the Evangelical Association for which a Society was afterwards 
organized and incorporated. 

It would appear from the records that but little was done in the book 
business at this time. The Conference ordered that 1500 copies of the 
“ Biographies of Jacob Albright and George Miller,” and 1000 copies of the 
Discipline (English) be published. These small editions show that the 
book trade was still in its infancy, but it is to be remembered that the Eng- 
lish portion of the Church was quite small in numbers, 

During the year the work made but indifferent progress, the increase 
being not quite as large as the year before, yet more uniform. York circuit 
reported the highest number of newly received members, and then came 
Wooster, Canton, and Center cireuits. Schuylkill circuit had to pass through 
its severest trial, and a final separation of the two antagonistic elements 
took place. George Kimmel and his party, which was, however, but small 
in numbers, withdrew from the Church; thus tranquility was restored and 
immediately the work began to prosper once more. A camp-meeting, which 
was held in August on the land of George Rickert near Orwigsburg is said 


212 AISTORY OF) THE [1832. 


to have been the best ever held in that section of the country. It was 
estimated that at least one hundred souls were converted during the meeting 
From that time the work gained a firmer footing and the societies in the neigh- 
borhood increased annually. Buffalo circuit in the State of New York was 
formed this year. There had been but one circuit in that State for many 
years, namely Lake circuit. The reading of the stationing report at Con- 
ference, caused special anxiety when it came to Lake circuit, and the faces 
of those appointed there usually changed color. This circuit was for a long 
time in no favorable repute among the preachers. One cause was its great 
distance from the other circuits. The preachers on that circuit missed the 
company of the other brethren during the whole year. Only the presiding 
elder made occasional, but not regular visits. By the formation of the 
Buffalo circuit this was changed, for now three or four preachers were sent. 
Thus the work was developed continually until some ten years later it was 
formed into an Annual Conference. 


$168. Reminiscences by Rey. Charles Hammer of His Experiences in the 
Western Conference. 


During this year Charles Hammer was sent from the Eastern to 
the Western Conference, and stationed on Wooster circuit, in Ohio, having 
Christian Leitner as his colleague. From documents found among his 
effects we gather the following interesting items : 

‘We endeavored during the year to extend our circuit, although it was 
already large enough for two itinerants, hence we arranged our appointments 
so that we could prospect for new appointments. In this we had good 
success. In Tuscarawas County, somewhat distant from our field of labor 
we had no preaching place. Bro, Adam Hennig had done missionary work, 
there already in 1816, but it was afterward dropped, probably on account 
of the great distance. But by a remarkable circumstance it now transpired 
that we found entrance into this county, and as that was the beginning 
which led to the formation of Tuscarawas circuit, I will relate it: 

“Being on my way to visit relatives in that county a woman met me 
on the street who at once came up to me and after greeting me asked 
whether I were a preacher? She spoke somewhat broken English. I 
noticed at once by her appearance and pronunciation that she was a Ger- 
man Pennsylvanian and hence I answered her in German that I was an 
Evangelical preacher. When she heard that she was overjoyed and said, 
they had previously lived in Western Pennsylvania and the Evangelical 
preachers used to stop with them and preached in their house, but now that 
they lived in this new country they felt utterly forsaken without preaching, 
and they knew not where our preachers were, or how to reach them by 
correspondence. She further said that they had often prayed to God to so 
guide matters that they might obtain a preacher again. Then she said in 


1832.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 213 


her Pennsylvanian dialect, which cannot be given here: ‘When I left home 
I resolved that if | should meet some one who looked like a preacher, I 
would stop him and give him an invitation to visit us and preach for us. 
Now when I saw you, I thought you were a Methodist preacher and for that 
reason I spoke English.’ 

“T promised to visit them and appointed the time. These people could 
appreciate the preached Word after having been deprived of it for a long 
time. No one can describe the great joy in that house when she brought 
home the news that they were to have preaching in their house. This sister 
was the wife of David Ressler. I went there at the appointed time and 
preached for them and learned to know them as a genuine Evangelical 
family. Their house was a small old cabin. There was scarcely room to 
hold a service; they intended, however, to erect a new house during the 
coming year, which was done. At the first appointment a neighbor, whose 
name was Brenneisen, attended. He wasa Mennonite ; he was touched and 
such impressions were made upon him that he invited us at once to preach 
in his house (which was a roomy one), which invitation I of course accepted 
with thanks. From that time forward there was regular preaching service 
in that neighborhood with good results. Bro. Brenneisen and his family 
were converted to God before the year expired, and Bro. Ressler’s children 
also later on. Their son Jacob Ressler afterward entered the itinerancy 
and served for some time as preacher in the Ohio Conference. A beautiful 
church was afterward erected and a flourishing congregation enjoyed the 
privileges of the house of God. The work went forward in several direc- 
tions—and thus arose the Tuscarawas circuit. 

‘The boundaries of our circuit (Wooster) were extended in a north- 
westerly direction. Wesecured a new appointment a few miles east of 
where now the town West Salem is situated. I preached there for the first 
time on Sunday, October 28th, 1832. The house which was a roomy one, 
was crowded with eager hearers, some of whom had come quite a distance. 
These people had formerly lived in Schuylkill County, Pa., where they knew 
my father and transacted business with him, when they heard who was to 
preach the curiosity was great to hearme. But as yet they were all enemies 
of the work of God and very ignorant in regard to religious matters. One 
of them, a man of great physical strength, who was called ‘ Bully’, 1 had 
known in my youth as having been conspicuous in many free fights—he 
had talked boastingly how he would deal with the preacher (me) and what 
a lesson he would give him after preaching was over. I preached on John 
3. 7. about the new birth. God’s power came upon the people so that a 
great commotion took place, and my special opponent was confounded ; he 
sat there trembling like a leaf and wept so bitterly, that I expected he 
would drop on his knees and cry out for mercy and pardon. After the 
meeting these people invited me very urgently to come again, and also 
preach for them, which was done. We then received that neighborhood as 


914 HISTORY OF THE [1832. 


a new appointment, preaching regularly in private houses, and afterwards 
the good fruit appeared. 

“ Bro. John Riegel lived where West Salem is now located, in whose 
house we preached regularly. Bro. Riegel, now a local preacher, had been 
an itinerant preacher from 1816 till 1820. He was a pious, talented man 
and was a great blessing to his neighborhood where he exerted a very good 
influence. He was a very good help to me and gave me much encourage- 
ment, hence I felt quite at home with him. Also Bro. Frederick Borauf 
who had been an itinerant but was now a local minister, lived in this 
section. He was a pious man, but had to struggle with adversities which 
were more or less detrimental to his usefulness. He had been a very useful 
man while he was in the active service, and made a good impression as a 
preacher and also in his private life. He was suddenly taken into eternity 
by an accident which befel him in the woods. Bro. Adam Hennig also — 
lived within five miles from there. He moved into this neighborhood when 
it was yet entirely new and thinly settled. They were surrounded in their 
little cabin with great forests. His wife frequently told me of the adven- 
tures she had while her husband was absent following his calling as a 
preacher of the Gospel. Wild beasts, especially wolves, came in crowds to 
their hut where she and her little children were alone, howling most fright- 
fully. But she trusted in God who protected them, and seemed contented 
with her lot. 

“At that time we had, besides quarterly and ‘Big’ meetings, also watch- 
nights ; but of protracted meetings we knew nothing, and we could not have 
held them either because of our daily appointments. We expected usually 
at our watch-nights and other meetings to have soul-harvests in which we 
were seldom disappointed: I will here refer to a blessed watch-night held 
during this year, in the house of Father Mohr, six miles froni where the 
town of Ashland is now located. This meeting was held in the second story 
of a large dwelling house where there was a large room without partitions. 
At such meetings it was customary to have the assistance of several exper- 
ienced local preachers, who would sometimes come from a considerable 
distance but this time we were disappointed. Late in the afternoon, when 
the friends had already assembled from far and near, it was reported that 
none of those expected preachers would come. This disappointment was 
too much for the friends. Such a large gathering of people and only one 
preacher, this was so unusual that it caused Jamentations. I could finally 
no longer bear the desponding utterances and withdrew from the people. 
I went out into the woods and prayed and agonized for divine help. My 
courage and faith became strengthened and I returned to the house and 
found the room crowded with people. After opening the meeting I read 
1 Samuel 12, 24 as my text. But I will not attempt to describe what 
powerful and overwhelming divine power was revealed which swept every- 
thing before it. It was wonderful! 1 could hardly finish my sermon on 


1832.} EVANGELICAL ASSOCIA TION. 215 


account of the great stir among the converted and unconverted. There was 
no further preaching necessary, there was enough to do in laboring with 
the penitent seekers. This was the Lord’s doings, and unto him be all 
the glory. Now the lamentations were turned into songs of gladness and 
shouts of joy. How many were converted in that night, I cannot say as 
I find no number mentioned in my journal. It is now (1884) about 55 
years since that meeting was held, but it remains as vividly in my memory 
as if it had happened but recently. 

“ Tn this section a certain physician resided, who disapproved of our 
doctrine and was disposed to enter into disputes with our preachers or 
certain points of doctrine. I preached in a certain house where this doctor 
was well known, and when he heard the name of the preacher he said: “I 
will attend, but I will be the hammer and he shall be the anvil.” When 
the time arrived the house was filled with eager hearers, and the doctor 
also put in an appearance. Bro. H. who was class-leader and also a son- 
in-law of Father Christopher Spangler of Center County, Pa., came to me 
before the exercises began, and informed me of the doctor’s presence, that he 
had spoken thus and thus, that he was a man who would carry out his determin- 
ation, and that he feared the doctor would begin a debate in open meeting. 
Bro. H. then gave me a good advice how to reach the heart of this man 
through the sermon and thus keep him quiet. I followed this advice and 
our purpose was accomplished. At the close of the meeting he came to me, 
gave me his hand and spoke in a friendly manner—and hastened away. 
Outside the house he was asked why he was in such haste, whereupon he 
answered : ‘It is true I have said, I would be the hammer and he should be 
the anvil, but he is the hammer and J am the anvil’ I was very glad thus 
to have escaped an unseemly debate inthe meeting. I hope the impressions 
made upon him in that meeting may have resulted in his salvation. 

“The visits of our presiding elder Bro, Joseph Long were occasions of 
great blessing and encouragement. He was then in his best years, about 
33 years old and had been 11 years in the ministry. He was probably never 
in better spirit to preach than at this time. He frequently preached at our 
quarterly and camp-meetings so powerfully that he carried everything 
before him. He had peculiar ways about him in his social conduct, which 
at times caused offence, but then his extraordinary preaching easily 
reconciled all. Once I heard him preach on Hebrews 2,1-3. After the 
sermon he turned to me and said: ‘ Now I see into this text.’ A few weeks 
later we had another meeting in another section of this circuit where he 
preached again on the same text, but this was a remarkable sermon ; 
although I have heard many others preach on the same words I have never 
heard anything comparable to this. It seemed he had received special light 
on those words when he preached from them before. 

“[ would remark here that Bro. Long was very compassionate on 
preachers when they were sick or poor or overwhelmed with adversities. 


216 HISTORY OF THE [1833. 


As an illustration I cite the following instance: Bro. Long located 
the following year (1833), and before I left Ohio my horse became blind. 
Under these circumstances I came to his house. He inspected my horse, 
and then said: ‘You cannot get along with this blind horse, leave it here 
and take my riding-horse instead.’ But his horse was an excellent one and 
probably worth three times as much as mine, and to pay the difference there 
was no thought about that, in short the offer was too good, and I refused it 
with thanks.” 

“The present generation of Ohio preachers can have no adequate idea of 
how their fore-fathers had to deny themselves after they had come from 
Pennsylvania and settled in the thick forests of Ohio and struggled to 
establish a homestead here. I met families who would have speedily returned 
to Pennsylvania if it had not been for want of means, but as it was they were 


compelled to stay under great sorrow and adversities until they were estab- 


lished insome measure. Some of these families had all conveniences in their 
former homes, but now they fared poorly. Living in small huts, furnished with 
home-made tables, benches, etc., instead of chairs and bedsteads and every- 
thing else ona similar scale. Besides this, was the heavy work with clearing 
up and cultivating the soil until it was in a condition to yield the necessary 
provisions for living. Ofttimes snakes would gather under the floor of the 
cabin and make their breeding places there. I frequently preached in such a 
house, but had not courage to stay through the night until cold weather set in. 
The family had come from Lewisburg, Pa. On the afternoon of the 1st of 
August, 1832, I preached there the first time, when, in the midst of a sermon, 
a snake of considerable size came up through some hole in the floor and 


crawled along upon the floor. It may be that the singing or perhaps the » 


preaching induced it to come out. It was soon killed but was followed 
by another which was also speedily dispatched. This took place during 
preaching but caused no disturbance. No one seemed frightened, apparently 
these people were accustomed to such visits. At the close of the meeting 
a stranger came to me who had been touched by the sermon, and invited 
me to preach also in his house, which was done. The snakes had evidently 
done no harm in any respect.’’* 


§ 169. Increased Activity—Vehement Persecution. 


This year (1833) the Western Conference held its annual session in Pleas- 
ant township, Fairfield County, Ohio, beginning May 6th. Joseph Long was 
chairman, and John H. Yambert secretary. One minister was deposed from 
office for neglect of duty. George Anstein and Christian Leitner located on 
account of bodily infirmities, and Joseph Long on account of family affairs. 
Daniel Tobias, Peter Gates, John Shreffler and Henry M’Bride were received 











*) Christliche Botschafter, December 15-29, 1884. 


’ 
ie see” jel 


1833. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 217 


on trial into the itinerancy. 

The Eastern Conference held its session at Orwigsburg, Pa., beginning 
June 3rd. Thomas Buck was again chairman, and John Seybert secretary. 
Two preachers were deposed from the ministry, and John S. Himmelreich 
and Jacob Borkert located on account of bodily infirmities. The following 
were received on trial into the itinerancy : John Sensel, Isaac Deppen, 
Michael F. Maize, Solomon Altimos, Jacob Boas, and Daniel Miesse. The 
preachers were stationed as follows :— 

Canaan district, Thomas Buck, P. E. Schuylkill circuit, John P. Leib 
and Isaac Deppen ; Lebanon circuit, Jacob Schnerr and John Sensel ; Lan- 
caster circuit, John Roessner and John Lutz. 

Zion district, William W. Orwig, P. E. York circuit, John G. Zinser 
and Joseph Harlacher ; Gettysburg circuit, Elias Stoever and Henry Bucks ; 
Franklin circuit, Jacob Barber and Samuel Baumgartner ; Shenandoah cir- 
cuit, Jacob Bell and Michael F. Maize. 

Salem district, Joseph M. Saylor, P. HZ. Union circuit, John C. Reisner 
and Francis Hoffman; Lycoming circuit, George Schneider and George 
Brickley ; Center circuit, Charles Hesser and J. Young ; Somerset circuit, 
Daniel Brickley and Abraham Frey ; Indiana circuit, Solomon G. Miller and 
Jacob Boas. 

Carmel district, Philip Wagner, P. E. Lake circuit, Daniel Kehr and 
Solomon Altimos ; Mohawk circuit, Frederick Glasser ; Buffalo circuit, John 
H. Yambert ; Erie circuit, John Seybert. 

Western Conference, Henry Niebel, P. KE. New Lancaster circuit, Charles 
Hammer and Elias Sichly; Sandusky circuit, Michael Miller and Peter 
Gates; Wooster circuit, John J. Koppand Aaron Yambert ; Canton circuit, 
Conrad Kring and Daniel Tobias ; Miami circuit, George Mattinger and John 
Shreffler. } 

The increase during the past year was 331, and the whole membership 
4252. The salary of an unmarried preacher was $48.48. 

This Conference resolved to publish an English hymn-book for the 
Society, and Joseph M. Saylor and John P. Leib were appointed a commit- 
tee to make a collection, to which committee William W. Orwig, Adam 
Kttinger, and Joseph Hammer were added the following year, in order to 
revise and prepare said collection for the press. It consisted of 333 hymns, 
of small size; about ten years after it was considerably enlarged, and pub- 
lished in a larger size. It was likewise resolved, to revise the smaller 
German hymn-book. Thomas Buck, William W. Orwig, and John C. Reisner, 
were appointed a committee to carry this resolution into effect. The former 
editions of this small hymn-book had been in larger type and of larger size, 
but without any division of the hymns into their proper departments. By 
this revision some of the hymns were changed, shortened, divided into two 
or more, some left out, and a considerable number of new ones added, 
especially morning, evening, and funeral hymns. At a subsequent revision 


218 HISTORY OF THE [1833, 


and enlargement of this little volume, however, most of these hymns, with 
several others, were embodied into a larger hymn book, while some hymns 
of the larger work were added to the smaller one. 

From the minutes of this Conference it appears, that four new circuits 
and a new presiding elder district were formed, and the boundaries of the 
connection considerably enlarged. For several years past, the number of 
itinerants had increased more rapidly than ever before ; and as the several 
circuits were, therefore, better supplied and attended to than before, some 
had become so extensive by this time, that a division was necessary. There 
were also men at hand to seek new circuits, or to take up missions. The 
Society had recovered from its former sore trials, and taken a turn for 
increased activity in its high calling. The ministry embodied a considera- 


ble number of experienced, firm, and heroic men, who made it their business _ 


to enlarge the bounds of their fields of labor, and to enlist as many souls in 


the service of God, as they possibly could. Most of them, with few excep-. 


tions, preached daily. The circuits were generally very large; it required 
four, and on some even six weeks, to “make a round”; and many of the 
preaching places were ten, twenty, and some even thirty miles apart. Some 
of the circuits were from two to four hundred miles in circumference, and 
the districts accordingly. These, then, were signs of better times; nor did 
they fail to come. 

This was one of the most blessed and prosperous years of the Associa- 
tion, and never before had the increase been so large. The brethren labored 
with remarkably good success on Lebanon circuit, which extended partly 
over the counties of Lebanon, Berks, Lehigh and Bucks, numbering over 
500 members. 

During this and the preceding year a great revival took place in Brush 
Valley, Center circuit, which resulted in the conversion of the families of 
Gramling, Beck, Moyer, and others ; and in Nittany Valley, the families of 
Rissman, Heldman, etc. 

Franklin circuit, extending over parts of the counties of Franklin, 
Cumberland, and Perry, enjoyed a glorious revival this year. A few miles 
east of Carlisle, at the Leathart Spring, a considerable awakening took 


place, and a very promising class was formed there. David Kutz, Christian . 


Ruhl, John Kratzer, and partly their families also, were among the first 
members in this vicinity. Also in Fishingcreek Valley, Perry Co., awak- 
enings and conversions took place. 

As the work of conversion progressed in Upper Milford, Lehigh Co., 
persecution became more fierce. As an illustration of the vehemence of 
the conflicts between light and darkness we insert the following communi- 
cation by Rey. Jesse Yeakel, who was an eye-witness of the occurences he 
describes. 

“ During the years 1832 and 1833 a number of respectable families 
were converted to God under the labors of the sainted Rev. Jacob Schnerr, 


1833. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 219 


all of whom had up to that time belonged to a certain church denomination. 
Filled with chagrin on this account, many of their fellow-members tormented 
them in many ways; there was, however, little opportunity because men, 
women and children usually entered unitedly upon the new way. But with 
one family it was different, for these persecutors succeeded in causing fric- 
tion between man and wife and induced the latter to oppose her husband 
(Charles Yeakel) and the work in the family. But as the husband for 
himself and on account of his children conscientiously sought the Lord and 
exhorted his children to turn to God, the said opponents with their pastor 
at the head urged the poor wife to forsake her home in the absence of her 
husband, and take the children with her, expecting thereby to compel him, 
in view of his temporal circumstances, to change his mind. The concen- 
trated hatred on account of the loss of said families whom they could not 
reach, was now poured upon this one family. Almost driven to despair the 
wife one day left her home and took the children—mostly small as yet— 
except one of the eldest, with her. Now the enemies made application to 
the civil courts to compel the husband and father to provide for the absent 
wife and children, but in this they failed. Then they made application for 
a divorce, in which they also failed for no one could show that the husband 
had committed any wrong against her. Finally the enemies concluded to 
support the wife and children out of their Church treasury. Then a very 
able attorney advised the husband to enter suit tor damages against the 
entire coterie on account of unlawful interference with his family. But 
this opened their eyes, so that they discovered a great danger for their 
good (?) name and their money purses. They begged for leniency which 
was finally granted to them upon conditions that were acceptable. 

Meanwhile, the children grew up, returned home, and one after the 
other was converted to God, until a// had found the Lord. After a number 
of years the mother also returned, acknowledged her wrong, became recon- 
ciled to her husband, sought the Lord and died years ago, as we hope, in 
the Lord. The husband, who preceded her several years, had suffered, 
besides sleepless nights and untold sorrows, also the loss of several thous- 
ands of dollars in the shape of court expenses, damage to his business, etc., 
in order to serve God in a free country, according to the dictates of his 
conscience. But his stedfastness bore such fruit, as he was permitted yet 
to see, as rewarded him a thousandfold. And he had the great satisfac- 
tion to see that two of his sons became itinerant preachers in the 
Evangelical Association. 

Here is another case: A certain man (Abraham Yeakel) had come 
under the conviction that he must be converted to God, in order to be 
saved. But he had a very uncongenial wife, a veritable Xantippe, whom he 
feared. One day he cut down a tree in the forest which became entangled, 
while falling, in the top of another tree. He climbed up and cut off a 


branch, when the tree turned and a limb struck his head with great force 
15 


220 LAS LORY | OF LLL [1833. 


and threw him down upon the rocks. He was carried into the house in an 
unconscious state and lay for weeks hopelessly upon his bed in great pain, 
but more intense than physical pain was the suffering of his soul on account 
of his sins. At last there came signs ofimprovement. Then the poor man 
requested his brother-in-law, who was class-leader, to hold a prayer-meeting 
for him in his house if the members were not afraid to come. ‘What’ an- 
swered these, ‘we should be afraid of a cross woman, when an immortal 
soul is at stake?’ Well, we went there. As we entered the kitchen a 
kettle of hot water hung over the fire, at another place stood a pail filled 
with mud-slush, and close by another filled with filth, and the shrew of a 
wife sat with flashing eyes quietly inacorner. Matters seemed quite serious. 
We went quickly through the kitchen into the sitting room, and when the 
class-leader commenced to sing, behold, a pail full of slush is thrown over 
the brethren, and still another, then came a fire-brand, then a brick, which 
struck a brother upon the forehead so that the blood flowed down his face ! 
But see! Xantippe herself comes with dishevelled hair and uplifted broom- 
stick toward the class-leader—she strikes, and in the attempt to ward off 
the blow, it hits his thumb and breaks it, the marks of which he took with 
him into tae grave. Now it was all over with the prayer-meeting. We 
concluded to leave. She permitted us to pass through the kitchen; the 
last one, (Bro. David Schultz) who was like Nathanael without guile stopped 
on his own account and told the enraged woman that she must be converted 
to God or be lost forever, then, quick as a flash, she seized an old rag, dips 
it into the filth and strikes it 2-3 times around his head! He wiped his 
face, and as he passed out through the door he shouted: ‘Glory be to God ! 
Glory be to God!’ And, certainly, in accordance with Luke 6, 22, 23, it 
was the right time to glorify God. And then we went home, The poor 
man of the house wept bitterly as we left. He afterward professed to have 
found the Lord, and, we hope, was saved.” | 


§ 170. John Seybert’s Reports of Victories. 


Above all others, did the new Erie circuit prosper, which was formed 
this year by John Seybert. He reported, at the next Conference, one hun- 
dred new converts, and 121 members in all. This was one of the most 
blessed missions that was ever undertaken by the Society. Its principal 
places were : the neighborhood of the borough of Erie, Erie County, Pa., 
and Warren, Warren County. In these two places glorious revivals took 
place, and each of them had three flourishing classes at the end of the year; 
there was also a small class of three members, George Muck leader, in the 
County of Crawford, at the Conneaut lake. The first leaders of the three 
classes in Hrie were: John Hershy, Samuel Heiss, and Jacob Long ; ond 
of those in Warren: Martin Esher, Henry D. Grunder, and John Ott. In 
Mercer County too, there was, during this year, the foundation of a good 
work laid in the families of Blank, Meyer, Bernhart, Eberhart, and others ; 


1833.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIA TION. 221 


likewise in Butler County, at Zelienopel, Harmony, etc. Mr. Ziegler, the 
principal man of Harmony, received Bro. Seybert kindly, although he 
afterward opposed the work. In different places he found open doors among 
the Methodists, Mennonites, Baptists, Lutherans, and Reformed, preaching 
in churches, school-houses, private dwellings, barns, and in the woods, with 
great success. In some places, especially at Warren, public morality was 
at a very low ebb, and sins and vices of many kinds were predominant. 
Some parts of the country had no preachers at all; while others had such 
bad ones, that they would have fared much better without any. These 
with their followers rose against the strange itinerant, and did their best to 
drive him out of the country, by slanders, lies, and calumnies, calling him 
a good-for-nothing fellow, who had left his wife and children in the Kast, 
etc. But several of these curates fell into the pits themselves, which they 
had dug for Bro. Seybert—they lost their places, and were compelled to 
leave those parts of the country. We subjoin the following extracts from 
a report of this mission by Seybert himself. He says :— 

“T reached my mission on Friday, July 12th, 1833, and lodged with 
Mr. Gingrich, # mile south of Erie. The following day I looked about for 
preaching places, and the Lord opened hearts and doors to me. Sunday, 
14th, I preached three times, the Lord owning and blessing my humble 
efforts. Among those who first received me in Erie, where the following 
persons: John Hershy, Jacob and John Long, Jacob Miller, Gimber, 
Metzler, Brown, Ripple, Kurtes, Hidler, and toward the close of the year, 
also Heiss’s family. The German settlers of Erie county were Romanists, 
Lutherans, Reformed, Baptists, and Mennonites ; some of whom may have 
been in a state of grace, while others perhaps were convinced of the neces- 
sity of a change of heart—but the great majority lived in impenitency and 
indifference.” 

As already stated, at the close of the year a flourishing society was 
formed in this part of the country, consisting of three classes. Afterward 
it increased from time to time, exerting a salutary influence upon other 
parts of the country, and also furnished a considerable number of candi- 
dates for the ministry, several of whom became useful men. Speaking of 
Warren, Bro. Seybert says :— 

“ The German (European) population were in a state of gross darkness, 
and addicted to such vices as cursing, swearing, tippling, etc. As to their 
religion, they were for the most part Catholics and Lutherans. Their 
preacher was a drunkard. A German, who had served in Napoleon’s 
army, was their player ; but instead of playing the fiddle, he used to whistle: 
afterwards he too became a subject of converting grace. 

“October 10th, I paid the second visit to Warren, remained four days, 
preached three sermons, and held prayer-meetings. The beginning of the 
work of grace was now made; a respectable man, named Gross, fell to the 
ground during the sermon, as if struck by lightning, and continued to 


222 HISTORY OF THE [1833. 


agonize and pray, till he had obtained the pardon of his sins and the new 
life in God. I visited the healthy and the sick, the wealthy and the poor ; 
who then came to my meetings, and many of them were convinced of the 
necessity of conversion, and some were really converted. My family visit- 
ing and praying with the people in their houses, it appears to me, contributed 
more to bring about this glorious work of grace, than my preaching. 
January 17th, I visited Warren the fourth time, remained six days, preached 
nine sermons, and held four prayer-meetings. This time a powerful work 
of grace took place. Scoffers, persecutors, and blasphemers broke down, 
like trees that are uprooted by a mighty hurricane, and were happily 
converted to the Lord; and many of a more respectable class, also became 
the blessed recipients of divine grace. Children ten years old, and 
aged persons from forty to sixty years old, were powerfully affected and 

brought to repentance and conversion. . 

“Now, as the tippling minister could do nothing to hinder the work of 
grace, the above mentioned whistler commenced to assemble his fellow 
tipplers and dancers at the same time when the converts and anxious 
inquirers met for prayer, in order to keep them away from the religious 
meetings and thus prevent their conversion. But at a later period, this 
whistler also came to my preaching once, and was so powerfully affected 
and aroused from his carnal security, that he cried in great anguish of soul 
—‘Seybert, pray for me!’ This was an astonishing miracle of divine grace, 
and made a deep impression upon the whole audience. The dancing and 
playing at this place had now come to an end, as the whistler had embraced 
religion. Hallelujah !—Another man, who belonged to the more respecta- 
ble class, came with some of his neighbors, for the purpose of disturbing me 
while preaching. I was dwelling on God’s eternal love and mercy in Christ 
Jesus, and the persecutor was so powerfully affected during the sermon, 
that he was roused from his carnal security and melted to tears. He 
afterward came to meeting as a penitent, fell upon his knees in great dis- 
tress before the whole assembly, and called upon God for forgiveness. His 
wife and children followed his example, and all were translated into the 
liberty of the children of God. Two of his sons are now useful preachers. 
On the 24th of April, 1834, I took leave of my mission, after I had 
traveled 3,011 miles, preached two hundred and eighteen sermons, and 
formed seven classes.” 

Through this mission, the foundations of the operations of the Asso- 
ciation in the north-western part of Pennsylvania were laid, where 
subsequently several good circuits and promising stations were formed, and 
many souls enlisted in the service of God. Some time after, several of the 
members of the Warren society removed to the State of Illinois, and were 
there among the first who received the preachers of the Evangelical Asso- 
ciation. The Warren society has been a regular station for years, and 1s 
now in possession of a very good spacious church. In the town of Erie, a 





~ 1833.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION, 223 


society has also been formed, which has a church and is in a prosperous 
condition ; and in some more places which had been gained by the mission, 
societies were subsequently formed, and churches erected. 


Mohawk circuit in the State of New York, east of Lake Erie, which 
was likewise formed this year, and served by Frederick Glasser, did not do 
so well, and was dropped the following year for some reason. With refer- 
ence to this, Brother Hummel in his first quarterly report of Mohawk 
mission. in the year 1839, writes as follows: “It is to be regretted, that 
the work once begun here by our brethren, was not continued. Many souls 
still in darkness might have been saved.” 


From the glorious results of the mission, it may be inferred that the 
brethren, in this case, had been discouraged too soon. Jacob Riegel, the 
preacher in charge, was yet young and inexperienced, and this may have 
been one of the reasons why the circuit was dropped so soon. 

During this year the Society lost four preachers by death, all of whom 
had been useful men, and in former years two of them had served as itiner- 
ants ; viz., Christian Wolf, Frederick Borauf, John W. Miller, and Henry 
Young. 


§ 171. Conversions among the Schwenkfelders. 


About this time the glorious word of conversion among the Schwenk- 
felders indicated heretofore broke forth with power in that part of the 
country where the counties of Lehigh, Berks, Bucks, and Montgomery in 
Pennsylvania conjoin each other, which was in Evangelical parlance called 
“Upper Milford.” * David Schubert and George Yeakel had already, as 
we have seen, opened their houses for the Evangelical preachers, and some 
of the Schwenkfelders attended those meetings and gave approval to the 
preached word. 


It was about this time that the Schwenkfelders elected Andrew Yeakel 


*) © Upper Milford” is geographically a township in Lehigh County, where this 
revival took itsrise. This “ Milford” as it was called by abbreviation, which, however, 
extended evangelically beyond the township, was already in the time of the old 
Eastern Conference a prominent place in the Ev. Association, and retained this honor 
for a long time in the Hast Pennsylvania Conference. A book of great interest might 
be written descriptive of the conflicts and victories of the work in that section, but 
with St. John, we might say, “the world would not comprehend it,” for events took 
place there that “are marvellous in our eyes.” At a certain time there existed ten 
classes which adjoined each other, of which the so-called ‘‘ Schubert’s meeting-house’”’ 
was the center. Through divisions of circuits, decease of old members, and removal 
of others, great changes have taken place. The following preachers from ‘‘ Upper Mil- 
ford” entered from time to time the ranks of the itinerancy: Lewis Schubert, Daniel 
Wieand, Abraham Schultz, John Schell, Samuel Gaumer, Reuben Deischer, Jesse 
Yeakel, Reuben Yeakel, Jesse Loras, Jacob Zern, William K. Wieand, William H. 
Weidner, A. S. Steltz, and Allen L. Yeakel. 


924 HISTORY OF THE [1833. 


as their junior preacher in that neighborhood, who was a talented and wise 
man and exerted a large influence among his brethren and others in the 
circle of his acquaintance. Bro. Yeakel realized the great importance of 
the ministerial office and felt that he lacked the true fitness for it. This 
induced him to diligently search the Scriptures and the writings of the 
reformers of the sixteenth century, and especially of their own venerated 
founder, Schwenkfeld, for light. He commenced to pray earnestly and to 
preach repentance and conversion and meanwhile he himself experienced 
the grace of God in Christ in the regeneration of his heart. In his preach- 
ing he now insisted upon assurance of forgiveness and adoption, and a new 
life in Christ Jesus. This doctrine was divinely: blessed to many hearts. 
His colleague, the senior preacher, now opposed him and denounced such 
doctrine as fanaticism. This caused a division into two parties. Those 


who were awakened and penitent adhered to Mr. Yeakel, and the others to 


the senior preacher. The preaching of Mr. Yeakel became increasingly 
impressive, and the opposition grew more intense. But the opposition 
party were in the majority and commenced to threaten expulsion. 


Rev. Andrew Yeakel and his adherents—who were seekers of salvation, 
frequently met in private houses. At one of these meetings, held in the 
house of Anthony Kriebel, a neighbor to the aforementioned George 
‘Yeakel, he declared to his brethren that he regarded the doctrines preached 
‘by the Evangelical preachers as being the truth of God which were in 
accord with the Holy Scriptures, and in the main also in agreement with 
‘the doctrines by Schwenkfeld, and that he was now resolved to go forward 
according to his conscientious convictions of truth and duty, leaving the 
consequences with God. As they then turned their meeting into a prayer- 
meeting he told them frankly, that he considered it Scriptural and in accord 
with the nature of prayer to kneel in prayer and would do so now (the 
Schwenkfelders pray standing), and when he fell on his knees all present 
excepting one, also knelt. This was for this small flock a decisive hour. 
When in that section, and in those days a person /nelt in prayer then the 
ery arose forthwith: ‘Now the — — — has also been seduced.” Soon 
enough Andrew Yeakel and his adherents were expelled from the Associa- 
tion of the Schwenkfelders, whereupon they joined the Evangelical 
Association in which Bro. Yeakel labored for several years as a very useful 
local preacher until his death in 1837. 


Among these men, besides Andrew Yeakel, the following were noted 
for solidity of character and possessing a good degree of information : 
Christopher and Charles Yeakel, (brothers of Andrew Yeakel) Anthony 
Kriebel, Daniel Kriebel, Benjamin Kriebel, George Yeakel, Jeremiah 
Yeakel, Melchior Schultz, George Schultz, Samuel Yeakel, David Schultz 
and others, and also a number of young people. These men carefully 
“proved all things and held fast that which is good.” When they had 


. 
{ 
’ 





1834. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 225 


ascertained the truth, they took a decided stand in its defense, and 
remained “unmovable in the work of the Lord” unto the end.” 


§ 172. Another Blessed and Fruitful Year. 


In the year 1834 the Western Conference held its session in Lake 
Township, Stark County, Ohio, beginning on the 5th day of May. Henry 
Niebel was elected chairman and Charles Hammer appointed secretary. 
T'wo local preachers were deposed from the ministry, and one of them 
expelled from the Church. John J. Kopp and Elias Sichley were ordained 
deacons and Peter Wiest, Samuel Van Gunten and Jacob Frey received on 
probation into the itinerancy. 

The Eastern Conference again held its session in New Berlin, Pa., 
beginuing on the 2nd day of June. William W. Orwig was elected chair- 
man and John Seybert appointed secretary. The examination of the 
preachers was difficult and tedious as there had been many complaints 
presented. One presiding elder was deposed from his office, another itiner- 
ant put back on probation in his office, six local preachers deposed from 
their office, and three of them expelled from the Church. Those were days 
of strict discipline. Thomas Buck, John H. Yambert, Solomon G, Miller, 
Daniel Miesse, Jacob Borkert, and John Reessner located. John Noeckey, 
Jacob Saylor, Daniel Berger, Jacob Riegel, John Riegel and John M. 
Sindlinger were received into the itinerancy on probation. John G. 
Zinser was elected presiding elder. 

The preachers were stationed as follows : 


WASTERN CONFERENCE. 

Canaan district, John Seybert, P. K. Schuylkill circuit, John P. Leib 
and John Sensel ; Lebanon circuit, Joseph M. Saylor and Jacob Riegel; 
Lancaster circuit, Henry Fischer and Jacob Saylor. 

Zion district, Wilham W. Orwig, P. E. York circuit, Jacob Schnerr 
and Michael F, Maize ; Gettysburg circuit, Daniel Kehr and John Noecker ; 
Cumberland circuit, Charles Hesser and Abraham Frey ; Shenandoah cir- 
cuit, Solomon Altimos and John Shimp. 


*) Following is an illustrative incident, showing how those men inquired after the 
truth concerning the assurance of being saved by grace. Charles Yeakel and 
Daniel Kriebel went one evening to an Evangelical meeting at the house of David 
Schubert, and on their return homeward they came toa large chestnut tree, standing 
on the farm of Anthony Kriebel, at which their ways diverged. There they stood, at 
said tree, all night discussing the subject of this assurance until the day dawned in 
the East. They quoted Scripture passages, the Catechism, old spiritual hymns, pas- 
sages from Tersteegen, Schwenkfeld, a Kempis, and others, and discussed them. 
Finally Daniel Kriebel made the declaration that if one’s religion is genuine and 
Scriptural, he must know and feel it, for the Psalmist has said: “O taste and see that 
the Lord is good”—Psalm 34, 8 And thus this important matter was decisively 
wettled by these two men. Comp. Luke 24, 13, etc , etc. 


226 HISTORY OF THE [1834. 


Salem district. John G. Zinser, P. E. Union circuit, J. Young and 
Daniel Berger ; Lycoming circuit, George Brickley and Samuel Tobias; 
Center circuit,Francis Hoffmann and John M. Sindlinger ; Somerset circuit, 
Henry Bucks and George Schneider; Indiana circuit, John Lutz and 
Peter Gates. 

Carmel district, Philip Wagner, P. E. Lake circuit, Joseph Harlacher 
and Jacob Boas; Mohawk circuit, Jacob Riegel; Buffalo circuit, Daniel 
Brickley ; Erie circuit, Elias Stoever. 


WESTERN CONFERENCE 


Ohio district, Henry Niebel, P. E. Lancaster circuit, Samuel Baum- 
gartner and George Mattinger ; Wooster circuit, Elias Sichley and Daniel 
Tobias ; Sandusky circuit, John J. Kopp and Aaron Yambert; Canton 
circuit, Charles Hammer and Samuel V. Gunten; Miami circuit, Conrad 
Kring and Peter Wiest. , 

The membership now amounted to 4,689, of whom 1,312 belonged to 
the Western Conference. The increase during the past Conference year was 
437. The salary of a single preacher was $50.12. 

The Conference ordered that a second edition of the larger hymn-book 
—which was called “ Saitenspiel”’ be issued, and appointed John G. Zinser, 
John Seybert and William W. Orwig as a committee to revise it. 

This was another highly blessed and prosperous year. Some of the 
circuits extended their boundaries considerably, and glorious revivals took 
place. Schuylkill circuit which then extended to Millersburg, Dauphin 
Sounty, was especially revived, particularly in the western portion. 

Lebanon circuit also expanded in a northeasterly direction beyond 
Allentown as far as Easton. It was subsequently divided into two circuits 
and the eastern end named. Reading circuit. 

On Buffalo circuit, in the State of New York, which had been formed 
two years before, a glorious revival took place during this year in the town 
of Boston. Daniel Brickley labored on this field with marked success. 
Jacob Yanz and George His were the first to receive the preachers. The 
following year a class was formed and George His became its leader. 


§178. Occurrences in the Vicinity of Allentown. 


In the year 1834 the Conference appointed Joseph M. Saylor and Jacob 
Riegel to this circuit—then called Lebanon, Bro, Saylor’s first sermon in 
this neighborhood was delivered in an orchard owned by Susan Mohr where 
about a thousand people gathered. How remarkably the sentiment of the 
people had changed! For a time the people had stayed away, but now they 
came in crowds. Saylor preached on Acts 26, 18: ‘To open their eyes and 
to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, 
that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance among them 
which aresanctified by faith that is in me.” Divine light and power accom- 





1835. | EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 227 


panied the word and many who had been sitting in darkness began to see light. 

Shortly after this Bro. Saylor preached in the house of David Mertz. 
After he had begun the service there came into the meeting a parson named 
Dehring with 10 or 12 of his adherents, who said he had come to show 
the people that these “Straweler’-preachers were false prophets. But they 
had before coming in, imbibed considerable “ spirit ” from a whiskey bottle 
and hence the parson’s speech as well as breath were well flavored. After 
the preaching was over, Father Mertz and the parson drifted into a debate 
on the doctrine of salvation from sin. Bro. Saylor asked the parso: 
whether he was willing to discuss this subject with him, to which he 
answered in the affirmative. Saylor proposed 1 John 1, 7 to him and 
asked him to explain to the audience what John meant by saying, “ Clean- 
seth from all sin.” To this he replied, that Paul said, of all sinners in the 
world he was the greatest. He was then requested to show the place where 
that statement could be found, which he could not do—he then asked his 
deacon about the place, but he also confessed his ignorance. After having 
encountered each other for a short time in this manner, the parson declared 
he would rather discuss the subject in a public debate. Aithough his 
sptrits could not help him out of his tight place concerning Paul’s passage 
he still seemed confident. Bro. Saylor did not believe it proper to have a 
public debate on such a subject, but proposed that a meeting be appointed 
and a text selected now, upon which each of them should preach to that 
congregation to which Dehring agreed. Then Bro. Saylor said: “And you 
may have the honor to preach the first sermon,’ upon which Dehring 
replied: “And because I am a learned man [ will leave the choice of the 
text to you.” Saylor then selected 2 John 9, 10. “Whosoever transgresseth” 
etc., etc. It was then further arranged that this meeting should take place 
in four weeks in the court-house in Allentown. But on the Sunday previ- 
ous Mr. Dehring announced that he would not attend the appointed meeting. 
Many people, however, desired to hear Bro. Saylor on the subject to which 
he consented, and preached on the selected text in the house of Solomon 
Butz who had been converted to God a short time before. The house was 
crowded with expectant hearers, and during the delivery of the sermon so 
great a manifestation of Divine power took place that nearly everyone 
present was overwhelmed. The shouts of joy of the converted and the 
cries of distress from the penitent became quite general. The friends who 
were present bear testimony that the Lord revealed himself in an extraor- 
dinary manner; some of them have since fallen asleep ; the few yet living 
assert that it was altogether beyond description. This occurred in the 
beginning of the year 1835. It was a decided victory over this so-called 
highly learned parson and his like, who are nothing but false teachers, 
clouds without water, wandering stars, apostles of sin, and propagators of 
falsehood. Upon many people a new light began to dawn, and they saw 
that their learned parsons were not able to withstand those sincere but 


228 HISTORY OF THE [1838. 


despised men who declared the Word of God in its simplicity and purity. 
The Lord hath done this. The Father was at the helm, the Master in the 
ship, the wind in the wheels and the glory of God was revealed. 


This event gave a mighty impetus to the work of conversion in this 
neighborhood, Father Henry Mertz soon afterward built a church upon his 
own land for the Evangelical Association and also donated a burial ground 
(1835). This was the first church of the Association in Lehigh County. 
There the remains of Father Mertz and of his wife rest in the same grave 


they having died happy in the Lord only a few hours apart, a few years 
later. 


But as the work increased persecution became more fierce, exhausting 
itself in various puerile tricks of meanness. For instance, the wheels were 
taken from Father Mertz’s buggy and could not be found, until a long time 
after when the mill-dam was drawn off—they lay in the mire at the bottom. 
Bro. Jacob Harlacher was a blacksmith, and his bellows were ripped open 
at mght and made useless. At other places the harness was cut into pieces. 
The shutters of the church and the fences at the burial ground were 
destroyed. Other attempts more serious are also recorded. As Bro. John 
Neitz was upon his knees one evening in family worship, a stone was thrown 
at him through a window, intended to kill him, as was afterward discovered, 
but the stone missed its aim and struck the inner wall of the house. A 
certain man named Lessig, who afterward died inthe poor-house, confessed 
after he had been in the death struggle for two days, that he had com- 
mitted this wicked deed.* 


§ 174. Remarkable Salaries. 


It will be both interesting and instructive to take a closer view of the 
financial administration and affairs of the Evangelical preachers about this 
time (1834-5). It will furnish useful matter for practical reflection to the 
considerate reader. The contributions were then called “general” and were 
divided by the Conference among the preachers with respect to their wants 
as nearly equal as possible. In this matter no regard was paid either to 
seniority in the ministry or official position. Following is an illustrative 
instance. The contributions in the Eastern Conference amounted to 
this sum; 

General Contributions ........ ....cecsscesen severe $2,064.41 
Subsidiary, Collections... .cscsco sescsssesecceesse, | 404,01 


$2,469.02 
This amount was divided as follows: 


*) Reminiscenses collected by Rev. Henry Stetzel. 


1834. | ‘EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 


Thomas Buck. ...... Peewcied edkvakeraccenes 
TART LIOUO  ocbaedenes ane be veteus vases sue 
EMT PICHINOTE sinc sheres s¢e tne te chess hacen see 
PETINSCLISOL ieee cs'bccdoelseedas sits seesesaus 
BPRTIC! LIGHEGs esc vesesnocvcvecchesess Gabecesee 
SRCINITAD HABGETOT ie ees hi eedeesdnvatecesedavces'en 
BERTI SES OGL Esc de Cbcha bs seeded eccedeiasetenes 
John C. Reisner......... head pag uenevenecesuce 
William -W. Orwig..:.....000s. phorass sce ‘ 
ESAT UT VANSODs oces es Ussuscctcterieeeds ove cbs 
Soseph Harlacher,..,..\cscse-ccese csc cease 
PIRBR UOC VOD coVieeacietts ci-escn eslccbvaviedes co 
Henry Bucks.......... seusenjentooswsbeviess ° 
RCO AT DCI As cmicess oe esas Cals axeSaeees 
Samuel Baumgartner....... .......2 0000 


Jacob Bell...... eae REL Cobt see ceaedca ns 
Michael F. Maize....... duchgntcssedvavereee 
BABS SAVIO vectvelns. wot aeseus nfcs'ss 
PITATICIONTLOLNAN tei deceveddesesatescodsbicse 
PACSOLTE EPSON ROL Gleave teetces secd'est sane celss seve 
George Schneider......... Svadavesscoreswap 


BP ROPTOVISTICKICY 1.10 aces spepcnectescuensseees 
PART OB IURICRSOL io eictulas calvilnave sells facaiee 
POM MLOUTOU: pin ctesiah deausarity enh sal von does 
WPANTOM OTICKICV eae ter ts voendaeyacvecarsynens 
POMC E GOTIMUM i scuscicactersiseascedaseess nes 


PPUTARAINUR TEMG: cy.ticcunue soceas setva vsee nna 


PeOENIOML Cro MLLLICT YC. 02k. ceive seececes cechas wa 
EMIS PISONSI Ie. oes bdeselndcceesbeccatsoaceess 
ATTAITIO VY GUO TIGY 5.5350 cosy ue secvcedessdec) cecess 
Daniel Kehr........ Peat ad tusedeutasnes trees 
Solomon Altimos.... 

Peter Bader. iva teaas ctiteee 4 
MODIFY BINDETE.. verdes cece ne Loh Ny pteatalaG 


Traveling Expenses. Clothing. 
$ 9.60 $100.24 
6.38 50.12 
7.78 50.12 
8.60 50.12 
1.99 25.06 
4.96 25.06 
2.65 50.12 
7.11 100.24 
8.11 100.24 
5.70 50,12 
5.32 50.12 
8.00 50.12 
3.86 50.12 
7.50 91.89 
2.30 50.12 
10.00 50.12 
12.00 50.12 
14.00 100.24 
5.87 100.24 
5.90 41.77 
8.75 29.244 
Ss 75.18 
10.00 50.12 
6.23 50.12 
0.00 50.12 
1.80 12.53 
4.20 50.12 
0.00 50.12 
8.70 50.12 
28.38 100,24 
6.76 50.12 
15.10 50.12 
6.49 41,78 
15.00 45.94 
0.00 50.12 


SPEMITIN SO VIELE Lieut. ova ausdahies secvatendedes 


229 


Total. 
$109.84 
56.40 
57.90 
08.72 
27.05 
33.03 
52.77 
107.35 
108.35 
55.82 
55.47 
58.12 
53.98 
99.39 
52.42 
60.12 
62.12 
114.24 
106.11 
47.67 
37.994 
84.91 
60.12 
56.35 
50.12 
14.33 
§4.32 
50.12 
58.82 
128.62 
56.88 
65.22 
48.27 
60.94 
50.12 


[=¥" Reflect—presiding elder John Seybert, performing a giant’s-work, 
was happy and contented in God in the midst of the incredible struggles of 


the work, with a salary of $50.12. 


§ 175. Refiections at the Close of this Period. 


This was the period of laying the denominational foundation. 


Bishop 


Albright died with an 7f? and but? in his mind as regards a separate 
future existence of the Evangelical Association. 


His immediate followers 


230 HISTORY OF THE [1834. 


adopted the designation “The so-called Albright People’ not as a permanent 
name, But when about 1815-17 all hope had vanished that the M. EK. 
Church would receive this German work into their denomination, and the 
attempt at union with the United Brethren in Christ had also failed, the 
conviction became fixed in the minds of the Evangelical workmen that this 
work was to be carried on separately and independently. Upon this the 
second and enlarged Church discipline and a large hymn-book ‘Das Geist- 
liche Saitenspiel” were published. A General Conference was now held 
and the name “The Evangelical Association”, adopted. Thereupon the 
work was continued with heroic courage, notwithstanding a long continued 
very oppressive crisis in business and financial circles, which seriously 
affected all kinds of industries, and all classes of people for about: ten 
years, making a proper financial support of the work impossible during that 
time. 

In connection with the third issue of the Discipline (1830), the 
doctrinal foundation of the Church was completed by eliminating several 
unimportant articles of faith, revising others, and retaining the article on 
“Christian Perfection.” By this time the denomination had increased 
to nearly 6,000; the itinerant preachers numbered about 50; thus the 
Church had conquered for itself—in spite of indescribable difficulties and 
obstacles and fierce persecutions, a goodly basis with respect to numbers, 
We say with deliberation that they had “conguered”’—for every point 
gained, yea every inch of ground obtained, so to speak, was acquired by 
prayers, tears, much severe labor and self-denial and the faithful use of 
the weapons of spiritual warfare. It was a hot but also a holy war against 
sin and the kingdom of Satan, in which not a-few valuable lives were 
sacrificed. : 

But now the time had arrived when new and pressing needs reminded 
the brethren of the necessity of giving attention to the erection of the 
ecclesiastical structure. Meanwhile the Lord had provided good workmen 
for this task. We group together a few of these and with them pass over 
into the next period. We mention the following: John Seybert, Joseph 
Long, William W. Orwig, Charles Hammer, John G. Zinser, Henry Bucks, 
Henry Niebel, Thomas Buck, John C, Reisner, Adam Ettinger, Joseph M. 
Saylor, John P. Leib, Francis Hoffman, Philip Wagner, Henry Fischer, 
John J. Kopp, Joseph Harlacher, Jacob Boas, Conrad Kring, etc. Besides 
these the brethren had that highly esteemed patriarch John Dreisbach as 
an excellent counselor in their midst. And now we would pass over into 
the next period in full accord with the good cheer which was already 
expressed in the preface to the second edition of the discipline, fittingly 
constituting an Hvangelical motto: “ Success to the Work! Success to the 
Edifice! Amen.” 


1835. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION, 231 


FOURTH PERIOD. 


1835—1850. 


ERECTION OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL EDIFICE—MORE RAPID 
SPREAD OF THE WORK. 


The year 1835 constitutes an important and very interesting epoch in 
the History of the Evangelical Association. Not only did the work pro- 
gress finely, the bounds expand, and the membership increase, but the 
General Conference, held this year, adopted a number of new, effectual, and 
far-reaching means and measures for the promotion of the work. It 
resolved to publish a periodical as the organ of the Church, called the 
“COhyristliche Botschafter”, requested all preachers in charge to introduce 
Sunday-schools in our societies wherever practicable, founded the “Charita- 
ble Society ”, besides making other improvements, 


§ 176. A Very Prosperous Year. 


The Western Conference held its session this year (1835) in Green- 
town, Stark County, Ohio, beginning on the 4th day of May. Henry Niebel 
was elected chairman, and Charles Hammer appointed secretary. Four 
preachers (probably local) were deposed from the ministry, and one withdrew 
from the Church under charges. John Reessner located on account of 
impaired health, and George Mattinger on account of family concerns. 
Joseph Ebert was ordained as deacon. 

The Eastern Conference held its session at Lebanon, Pa., beginning on 
June Ist. William W. Orwig was elected chairman, and John Seybert 
appointed secretary. One preacher was deposed from the ministry, and 
Samuel Tobias and Daniel Kehr located on account of feeble health. Ten 
applicants were admitted on probation, viz. Sebastian Mosser, Henry 
Thomas, John A. Jacobs, Frederick Miller, Daniel N. Long, John Poorman, 
Henry Kegel, Jacob Kehr, Samuel Friess and George Seger. The following 
brethren were ordained as deacons: Jacob Boas, Henry Fischer, John 
Sensel, John Lutz, Abraham Frey, Michael F. Maize and Solomon Altimos ; 
as elders, Charles Hesser, John P. Leib and Daniel Brickley. 

The preachers were stationed as follows :— 


232 FISTORY VOR Te [1835. 


EASTERN CONFERENCE. 


Canaan district, John Seybert, P. E. Schuylkill circuit, Charles Ham- 
mer and Sebastian Mosser ; Lehigh circuit, Joseph M. Saylor and Jacob 
Riegel ; Lebanon circuit, Charles Hesser and Henry Thomas; Lancaster 
circuit, Jacob Saylor and John Riegel; Philadelphia, Jacob Schnerr. 


Zion district, William W. Orwig, P. E. York circuit, Francis Hoffman 
and Henry Fischer; Gettysburg circuit, Solomon G. Miller and John A. 
Jacobs ; Cumberland circuit, John P. Leib, George Schneider and Fred- 
erick Miller ; Shenandoah circuit, Jacob Shimp and Daniel N. Long. 


Salem district, Philip Wagner, P. E. Union circuit, John Sensel and 
John Poorman ; Columbia circuit, Daniel Berger and John M. Sindlinger ; 
Center circuit, John Brickley and Henry Kegel; Lycoming circuit, John 
Young; Lake circuit, Michael F. Maize and Jacob Kehr; Buffalo circuit, 
Joseph Harlacher and Samuel Friess. 


Carmel district, John G, Zinser, P. E. Somerset circuit, John Lutz, 
Abraham Frey and Geo. Seger; Indiana circuit, Solomon Altimos and 
Jacob Boas; Hrie circuit, Daniel Brickley and John Noecker ; Canton cir- 
cuit, Elias Stoever and Peter Gates. 


WESTERN CONFERENCE. 
i 


Ohio district, Henry Niebel, P. E. Canton circuit, Jacob Frey; 
Wooster circuit, Henry Bucks and Peter Wiest ; Mansfield circuit, John J. 
Kopp and Samuel V. Gunten; Sandusky circuit, Samuel Baumgartner and 
Aaron Yambert; Lancaster circuit, Conrad Kring and A. Eby; Miami 
circuit, Elias Sichly. | 

The membership at this session was 5,119, the increase during the 
past year four hundred and thirty, the salary of a single preacher amounted 
to $51.60, 

Up to this time the minutes of the Western Conference had been 
recorded by both Conferences, but henceforth this practice ceased although 
the minutes of the Western Conference were still sent to the Eastern body. 
A few years later the General Conference ordered that the two Conferences 
should thereafter send each other copies of their minutes, This was done 
in order to draw the band of union closer between the two bodies, to enable 
one Conference to learn from the other, and to better watch over each other. 
The minutes of the Western Conference were subject to revision and final 
decision by the Eastern body. Afterward, however, the Conferences be- 
came independent of each other, and each was made subject to the General 
Conference. 

As may be seen from the minutes of the Conferences, the number of 
itinerants increased for several years more rapidly than ever before ; 
although there were still more or less locations taking place every year, 


1835. ] ; EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION, | 233 


either on account of bodily infirmities or family concerns.* Yet in pro- 
portion to the number of itinerants, locations were far less frequent now 
than formerly. The support of the preachers, it is true, was still very low ; 
but as those having families, were now entitled to draw something for them 
from Conference, and as in addition to their regular support, they were 
sometimes presented with clothing and provisions for their families,—those 
who knew how to economize, and met with no losses, nor incurred heavy 
expenses by sickness, enjoyed a competency. But those who did not 
understand frugality, or whose families could not accustom themselves to a 
simple and frugal living, would still fall back. 


Moreover, the districts and circuits were from time to time made 
smaller and more convenient, so that the journeys and labors of the preach- 
ers became easier and consequently there was not so much occasion for 
locating on account of bodily infirmities, although daily, or almost daily, 
preaching was still the order ofthe day. Healthy, stout men were expected 
to do this; and those who were both able and willing to do so, were, on 
the whole, the best and most efficient preachers. By daily preaching, their 
whole attention was engrossed, and the mind preserved from worldly 


*) The following extract from the diary of Rev. John G. Zinser, will show what 
hardships were often incident to the journeys of the itinerant preachers in those 
years. Certainly it required great perseverance and a robust constitution to “stand 
all the storms” and march onward in the itinerant work. Bro. Zinser was then pre- 
siding elder on Carmel district. 

“August 22nd, 1835, [ and Bro, Jacob Boas had to travel 150 miles to the camp- 
meeting on Indiana circuit in Pennsylvarsa. We traveled this day about 25 miles 
and stayed with friends at night. On the next day we traveled over 40 miles, and 
lodged at night in atavern. On the 24th we reached Indiana circuit; on that day 
the camp-meeting began, but we were yet one day’s journey away. In the morning I 
went on (Bro. Boas could not accompany me this day) and had a bad mountainous 
road to travel. I rode \on horseback) 43 miles, while it rained nearly all day very 
fast. As the distance was great and the roads very rough, I had to ride for several 
hours in the night. I had to go through a thick forest, where it was so dark that I had 
to dismount, in order to find the road with my feet. At last I reached the desired 
place, but to my sorrow I found nobody at home, and all doors were locked. With 
great difficulty I found a stable and hay for my horse, and then tried to find another 
house where I might stay. I wandered in the great darkness through the fields, while 
it rained still heavily, but could not find a house because I was unacquainted here. 
Finally I became confused, so that I could scarcely find my way back to the former 
place. Then I went into the barn, took off part of my wet clothing, knelt down to 
pray, and I could praise God from my heart that it was still so well with me. Here I 
had a full opportunity to pour out my heart before him. It was now nidnight. I 
then found a corner of hay where I sat down to sleep but slept very little. At day- 
break I arose and rode 3 miles further and at last to my great joy reached the camp- 
ground. Fortunately I suffered no damage to my health. In the afternoon I preached 
on 2 Peter 2,9. We had a good meeting, blessed with awakenings and conversions, 
but also troubled with some disturbances by the unconverted—for the people here are 
still enveloped in the darkness of error and prejudice.” 


234 HISTORY LOOP Tile [1835. 


thoughts ; a taste for reading, study and prayer was cultivated ; their fac- 
ulties were more rapidly developed, and their usefulness proportionately 
increased. And even in our days, those who, on the extreme boundaries, 
in thinly settled Conferences, travel on extensive circuits, preaching almost 
daily, seem to be, if not the greatest, yet, on the whole, the most useful 
preachers of the Society, Those, on the contrary, who have but few 
appointments, which they can fill on Sundays, seem to make, as a general 
thing, the slowest progress in their calling, and to accomplish the least. 
As the circuits were in former years too large and difficult, to the injury of 
some of the preachers ; so many are in our days too small and too con- 
venient, likewise to the injury of many preachers. 

In the same ratio in which the number of itinerants increased, so the 
increase of the membership went on more rapidly. Some of the circuits 
were enlarged, others divided and new ones formed, and thus many parts 
of the country were explored and occupied, which for want of preachers, 
had not been visited before. 

The conference year from Spring 1835 to 1836, was again very pros- 
perous, and in reference to increase of membership exceeded every previous 
year. The work of God spread especially in the East, more particularly 
again on the upper part of Schuylkill circuit, in Mahantango Valley, where 
during this year the first camp-meeting was held in that vicinity, on the 
land of Henry Heppler, which was a very good meeting; also in Lykens 
Valley, on Reading circuit in Lehigh County, Upper Milford, and near 
Allentown at Mertz’s, and farther east. In Philadelphia also, where one of 
our preachers was stationed this year for the first time, the prospects for 
gathering a large congregation continued to brighten; the society there 
increased considerably during the year, and at its close numbered 72 mem- 
bers. The efficient Sunday-school, which has existed there ever since, was 
established during this year. 

On Cumberland circuit, formerly called Franklin circuit, near Carlisle, 
where the gracious work had begun some years before, it also spread 
gloriously this year ; the number of believers increased considerably ; those 
who had been converted in former years, were strengthened in their faith ; 
and some of those in other parts, who had grown lukewarm, were {filled 
with new zeal. Also on the circuits of Union, Lycoming and Center, the 
number of believers increased considerably during this year; likewise on 
Buffalo circuit, in the State of New York. 

In short, the work spread, with but few exceptions, on all circuits of 
the Society ina glorious manner, and its prospects were on the whole, 
brighter than ever before. 


§ 177. Beginning of the Work in Allentown and Emaus. 


One of the oldest members of our Church at Allentown (Mother 
Scherrer), frequently stated that, when yet young, she went with her 


1835. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 235 


mother to hear a minister preach in the house of a German druggist, named 
Kaiser. She was of the opinion that this minister was one of our first 
preachers, and related a remarkable circumstance in connection with his 
preaching. 

There was a young man present in the meeting who was mocking the 
preacher and ridiculing the sermon during its delivery. Finally, the 
preacher addressed him thus: “ Young man, you will have a serious de- 
parture into eternity!” A short time afterward this young man was struck 
by hghtning and killed in an instant! However, that minister preached 
there but a few times. This took place in 1817 or 1818. She did not 
know who the preacher was, but we know that it was Bro. John Dreis- 
bach, who traveled through those parts as presiding elder at that time, 
Mr. Dreisbach says that he preached but twice in Kaiser’s house, and that 
the second time 4 men took a heavy piece of timber and pushed it against 
the house with such force that the building trembled. This alarmed Mr. 
Kaiser, so that he prohibited further preaching in his house. Bro. Dreis- 
bach, then, was the first preacher of the Evangelical Association who 
preached in Allentown. 

Much later, in the year 1835, a second and very earnest effort was 
made to introduce the work in Allentown by Joseph M. Saylor and Jacob 
Riegel, which effort was crowned with success, 

It was in this year that a colored man, named James Grove, opened 
his house to the itinerants, who successively preached there. Friends came 
all the way from Upper Milford to the evening meetings, returning home 
the same evening. They had 10 or 12 miles to come. The house was 
crowded, but also surrounded by rude “fellows of the baser sort,” and the 
friends had to suffer many insults and scoffs during worship. But the word 
made impressions; a man, named Joshua Fink, and his wife were con- 
verted to God. Very soon the owner of the house, in which James Grove 
lived, objected to the preaching service, ‘‘and the door was shut.” Now 
Bro. Fink opened his house and the brethren preached there a few times, 
but he also was persecuted. He could no longer secure any work, so he re- 
moved out of town to Cedar Creek, like Lot from Sodom to Zoar, but he 
was more fortunate than Lot, for his wife did not look back and become a 
pillar of salt, so both reached Cedar Creek alive. And Allentown also was 
more fortunate than Sodom, for the messengers of peace, sent by the Kvan- 
gelical Association, who were regarded as enemies and seducers, were in- 
deed the warmest friends of the people, and through them Allentown has 
been benefited beyond all calculation. 

Thus the work was postponed, but not abandoned. On the 10th of 
October, 1837, the brethren, John Seybert and Solomon Altimos, preached 
at 10 A. M. and 2 P. M. on the market-place, because there was no other 
place open for them in town. A short time afterward a converted man, 
named Henry Schmidt, removed from Philadelphia to Allentown, intend- 

16 


236 AUISTORY ‘OF THE [1835. 


ing to settle there. This brother there opened his house for prayer-meet- 
ings and preaching. Bro, Charles Hesser, from Philadelphia, preached 
there several times in his peculiarly attractive manner, which was a talent 
given him of the Lord. The Evangelical Association scarcely ever had his 
like in this respect among its preachers. The word had a powerful effect, 
the people were attracted and listened most attentively. There were large 
gatherings, many were touched, convicted and several converted to God. 
The Presbyterians had a small church, in which Bro. Hesser was permitted 
to preach, and thereby won a few families for the truth of the Gospel. Bro. 
Saylor’s preaching at James Grove’s opened the way, and the conversion of 
Joshua Fink and his wife were the first fruits of the great harvest at Allen- 
town. 

In February or March, 1838, the first class was formed by Francis 
Hoffman and consisted of the following members: Henry Schmidt and 
wife, Samuel Beitelmann, Elizabeth Brobst, Adam Geiser, Rebecca Scher- 
rer, Mathilde Scherrer, Judith Nester, Susanna Kuechlein. Henry Schmidt 
was elected class-leader and Adam Geiser exhorter. Soon thereafter a 
second class was formed and Father Henry Mertz made class-leader. 

In the Spring of 1838 initial steps were taken toward the erection of a 
Church, which was also accomplished and the edifice was dedicated to 
divine worship on November 26th of that year. 

How wonderful are the ways of the Lord! 

In October, 1837, the brethren, Seybert and Altimos, preached on the 
market-place because no foot of room could be had elsewhere in the town 
for an Evangelical preacher, and in November, 1838, they could dedicate a 
house of worship, where the truth of the Gospel could be preached freely 
without let or hindrance. How could the brethren Saylor and Riegel, and 
even Bro. Seybert, expect in 1837, when every door was locked against them 
that a house of God for the use of Evangelical preachers would stand there 
in 1838? Father Mertz was the main factor in this work. It was the work 
of God, which the brethren desired to establish in the midst of darkness, for 
this reason they succeeded even in such a way as God only could lead them. 


“God moves in a mysterious way 
His wonders to perform, 

He plants his foot-steps in the sea 
And rides upon the storm.” 


Many years later Bro. Saylor wrote to a friend of the time when he 
preached that sermon in 1834 in an orchard in the Cedar Creek class: 
“At that time,’ he says, “we had no church in Lehigh County and very 
little entrance. Now we have 4 large Churches in Allentown and at least 
i2 others outside the town and hundreds of houses, in which the Evangeli- 
cal preachers are gladly welcomed.” 

From the Cedar Creek class the work reached the village of Emaus, in 


1835. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 237 


Lehigh County, where it met with vehement opposition. Bro, F. Fehr 
opened his house for preaching ; the enemies frequently broke the windows, 
but this knit the few friends more closely together and made them more 
decided to fight the good fight of faith. Bro. Seybert declared once in a 
sermon he preached there how the power of grace was able to overcome the 
“entire work of the devil.” He said among other things. “Ifa drunkard 
has for years been an inebriate and nothing could save him, yet when he is 
converted to God so that he is born into eternal life, God’s grace can strengthen 
him so that he could swim through an ocean of alcohol from here across 
to Canada without lusting after it; for almighty grace 1s able to eradicate 
all desire for strong drink out of man’s being when he turns to God!” 

And from here the work extended to Springtown, Bethlehem, Easton, 
Catasauqua, Nazareth, Weissport,* &c., &c. 


§ 178. The Fifth General Conference. 


As the General Conference had not hitherto been held regularly every 
fourth year, but only when it was deemed necessary, the intervals were 
sometimes more, sometimes less than four years.7 

Thus we have seen that the fourth General Conference took place, as 
already stated, in November 1830, the fifth was held in May 1835, four and 
a half years after, while the sixth took place in November 1836, after an 
interval of only eighteen months. 

Pursuant to a resolution of the Eastern Conference of 1834, the Gen- 
eral Conference assembled on May 25th, 1835, at Orwigsburg, Schuylkill 
County, Pa. As the rule to elect delegates had not yet been introduced, 
each elder had the privilege of attending and voting as a member of Con- 
ference. 

Henry Niebel was elected chairman, who appointed John G. Zinser, 
secretary. 

A much larger amount of business claimed the attention of this body, 
than had been the case at any former General Conference ; the most 
important items are here inserted. The presiding elder districts were, to 
some extent, changed, and the Conference districts divided differently. 
The circuits of Somerset, Indiana, and Erie, were cut off from the Eastern 
Conference, and added to the Western ; they were, together with Canton 





*) Reminiscences by Rev. Henry Stetzel. 

+) The Eastern Conference was practically a continuation of the original Confer- 
ence which called the first session of General Conference in 1816. She exercised this 
power without question or dispute, whenever thought necessary until 1839. At the 
General Conference held that year, the Eastern Conference was dissolved and two new 
annual Conferences formed out of her territory, membership and ministry of about 
equal dimensions and numbers, and both of these new Conferences started their 
official records with the year 1840. And since that time the General Conference has 
_ always appointed its own sessions. 


238 HLLS LOR FOL ALLL E [1835. 


circuit of the Western Conference, formed into a new presiding elder dis- 
trict, called Carmel district. Thus the Eastern Conference numbered three 
districts, viz., Canaan, Zion, and Salem ; while the Western numbered two, 
viz., Carmel and Ohio. But in the following year, the Western Conference 
formed three out of its two districts, and called the new one Tabor district. 
The Conferences of those days seem to have had a strong predilection for 
figurative names for their districts ; which, however, represented nothing 
more than the land, and certain mountains and cities of the Israelites of 
old, without indicating, in the least, their geographical position ; subse- 
quently, however, the Conferences took this point always into consideration 
in naming their districts. The time of session for the Annual Conferences 
was also changed, the month of March being fixed on instead of May and 
June. 

This Conference also enacted a law, requiring a book to be kept on 
every circuit and station, for the purpose of recording therein the minutes 
of the quarterly Conferences ; and to hold local preachers conferences on 
every circuit, containing several of them ; and prescribing the rules and 
routine of business for their sessions, as they are contained in the Discipline. 
There was also an order of procedure adopted for this local preachers’ 
Conference in which a few items concerning the decision of charges are 
especially remarkable. They read thus: “When charges have been pre- 
ferred, to decide them properly in the investigation, by a majority of votes, 
in accordance with the directions of the Discipline.” Already in 1810 the 
Conference rule was introduced that all matters and cases should be de- 
cided by a majority of votes which has always since been practiced. by the 
General, Annual and Quarterly Conferences, and was now also introduced 
into this newly created Cenference. The enactment of this Conference, re- 
quiring German Sunday-schools to be introduced into our sccieties, 
wherever practicable, and making tit obligatory on the superin*ending 
preachers to take an active interest in this matter, was seasonalte and 
very wholesome for the connection ; but the word “German” had ‘“o be 
struck out afterward, because it gave rise to misunderstanding, *ome 
contending that the introduction of English or partly English Sundéay- 
schools was forbidden thereby. Heretofore it seems there had not been a 
single Sunday-school established within our borders; although many of 
our members sent their children to the Sunday-schools ef other de- 
nominations, and patronized them. But shortly after this Conference, 
these nurseries of the Church arose in various places within the Association. 

The good cause, however, in some places met with opposition, by 
members of the Church. [Partly for the want of better information, partly 
from prejudices, strengthened by false reports as to their end and object, 
some in other respects well disposed persons looked upon Sunday-schools 
as dangerous and as belonging to “ Babel”; and so likewise afterward with 
regard to the cause of missions, when its claims were urged on the attention 


1835.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 239 


of the Society at large. Yet, the second number of the “Christliche Bot- 
schafter,” dated February, 1836, contains the following remarks, setting 


forth the manner in which this enactment of General Conference had been 
received by the Church at large, and expressing strong hopes that it would 
be universally carried out :— 

“We are pleased to learn, that in compliance with the injunctions of 
General Conference, measures are taken nearly throughout the Evangelical 
Association, to introduce Sunday-schools,........ Our preachers on their 
respective circuits, have exerted themselves, and succeeded without meeting 
with great opposition, in making a promising beg‘nning in this good cause. 
It is true, the cause does not yet command that general attention, to which, 
in our opinion, it is so eminently entitled; but it is progressing, and we 
hope to see ere long, at least one Sunday-school established in each class 
of every circuit, throughout the entire Association.” 

It is indeed a small matter, in which place the first Sunday-school of 
the Association was established, yet New Berlin, Pa., seems to claim this 
honor ; while others are of the opinion that it is due to Lebanon, Pa. At 
all events, it is certain that in these two places, as well as in Orwigsburg 
and Philadelphia, the first Sunday-schools of the Society were established. 
The first report of the Philadelphia Sunday-school was published in the 
“ Botschafter”, Vol. I. No. 3, page 20. At first the main object was to 
establish German Sunday-schools. This was, however, soon found to be 
impracticable, as not only many members were in favor of putting the 
English on an equal footing with the German ; but in some places a suffi- 
cient number of German teachers could not be found, and in others none at 
all. The English language was then also introduced, Yet in the maritime 
cities, where the congregations consist almost exclusively of Kuropeon 
German members, and in some places in the North and West, the Sunday- 
schools are still exclusively German. The scarcity of proper German 
Sunday-school books, was at first another great obstacle to German 
schools ; but this evil was soon after remedied, in part at least, by the 
Publishing House of the Society. 

The founding of the “Charitable Society” of the Evangelical Associa- 
tion, was another useful measure of this Conference. The object of this 
society is, to.take charge of all legacies which have been or may still be 
bequeathed to the Society, to relieve poor superannuated itinerants, 
and after their death, their widows, and orphans under 14 years of age ; to 
loan them out on lawful interest, with sufficient security, and to divide the 
yearly proceeds among the several Annual Conferences of the Church, for 
the purpose aforesaid. This was the original object of said legacies ; but 
as the proceeds from the funds were formerly rarely or never altogether 
used for this purpose, permission was granted to apply the surplus to the 
support of the itinerants in actual service. The society consists of nine 
trustees, and is lawfully incorporated for the management of said funds. 


240 Veet OL ORV ORT free (1835. 


Following are the names of these trustees: John Seybert, Jacob 
Hammer, Joseph Hammer, Eli Hammer, Samuel Rickert, John Rickert, 
John P. Leib, William Wildermuth and Andrew Schwalm. 

The rule with regard to the salary of the preachers was also changed 
by this Conference. Hitherto the married preachers, who had served five 
years or more as itinerants, had received, irrespective of the number of 
their children, equal salaries, 7. e., twice as much as an unmarried preacher, 
This rule was now changed as follows : a married preacher without children 
was to receive three halves of the salary of a single man; and he who had 
one or two children, seven-fourths ; and he who had three or more children, 
double the amount of the salary of an unmarried preacher. By this change 
married men who had either no children at all or not more than two, suf- 
fered a considerable diminution of their salary, while that of unmarried 
men, who needed it the least, was considererably increased ; for this reason 
the rule was soon after repealed. In the next place, 1t was resolved that 
a preacher having been married two years previous to his entering the 
liinerancy, should after two years be entitled to an allowance for his family, 
according to the above rule; but a newly married preacher was to be put 
on an equal footing with a single one, 7. e., he was to travel five years before 
he should be entitled to any allowance for his family, The latter clause of 
this rule was afterward changed from five to four years. Many young 
preachers, indeed complained of this rule; but it has thus far remained in 
force, being considered just and wholesome. Its object was, to prevent 
young inexperienced preachers from burdening the societies, which they 
may be called to serve, with the maintenance of their families; or rather, 
to induce a young man, who is called to the ministry in single life, to 
remain in that state, till by his usefulness he gains the confidence of the 
Church, and acquires some practice and experience in his office. And ex- 
perience also taught, that those young men who travel a number of 
years before they marry, become the most useful and efficient preachers, and 
usually maintain their posts as heralds of the Gospel the longest. 


§ 179. Founding of the * Christliche Botschafter”’. 


The most important measure of this Conference, was the resolution for 
publishing the “Christliche Botschafter”, a measure which proved much 
more important than had been anticipated. This enterprise, however, like all 
others, met with considerable opposition even from an influential party of 
Conference itself—yet a great majority was in its favor. A religious paper 
had long before been felt to be a desideratum in the Church; but this feeling 
had-not been general, but confined to comparatively few. The German 
Churches of those days were, in general, unacquainted with this kind of 
literature; and only those members who were in the habit of reading similar 
English papers, were prepared to appreciate its value and importance. 
Some attempts of the kind by other denominations had failed; and evep 


4835.} EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 241 


some English religious papers were but feebly patronized, while others 
from want of support failed altogether. Add to this, that some considered 
tie enterprise a dangerous innovation, similar to Sunday-schools, the temp- 
erance cause, etc, For these and similar reasons it required a great deal 
of persevering effort to procure the number of 700 subscribers, as stipulated 
by General Conference. Some apprehended that the paper in question 
- would make the Church proud and worldly-minded ; that its members 
would attach too much importance to mere literary attainments. Others 
said they had the Bible, with which they were satisfied, as the contemplated 
paper would scarcely be better than that. 

General Conference appointed a committee from the Hastern Confer- 
ence to publish the paper in the manner prescribed, as soon as the above 
mentioned number of subscribers could be procured. The superintending 
preachers, all of whom had been constituted agents for the periodical, went 
to work in a spirited manner, and early the next fall it appeared that the 
enterprise could be carried out, according to the conditions laid down. The 
Brethren Adam Ettinger, of York County, Pa., and George Miller, of New 
Berlin, who was a printer, were charged by said committee with the publi- 
cation of the paper, and thus its first number appeared in January, 1836; 
during the first four years of its existence, it appeared but once a month. 
The first number was anxiously looked for, and was received and read with 
delight by many.* Although defective, both with regard to arrangement, 
order, contents, and external appearance ; yet its friends became more and 
more satisfied of its usefulness and advantage for the Church, so that the 
number of its patrons increased every month, till at the close of the second 
year, they had risen to 1500. At first, it had but few correspondents, and 
these kept themselves as much as possible in the back-ground, as their 
names appeared but rarely ; perhaps they were afraid of giving offense, or 
of becoming proud by seeing their names so often in print. But in course 
of time this changed, and the names of correspondents were given more 
frequently, especially in connection with reports. Although the contribu- 
tors were mostly inexpert, and their diction imperfect, yet the periodical 
became more and more popular, and exerted a very salutary influence on 
the Association. The reports of revivals and new openings to the cause of 
the Gospel, and its progress generally—the times of meeting of the Con- 
ferences, and their minutes in extract—deaths and other important events, 
described in simple, yet enthusiastic and glowing language—such and 
similar subjects filled its columns, and the results brought about thereby, 
were glorious ; the Association learned to know itself and others better—its 
various parts became more closely and intimately united—the interest in 
the general welfare was rapidly increased—unanimity in the application of 

*) The appearance of the first number of the Botschafter in his father’s house 18 


one of the most pleasant recollections of the early years of the author. With what 
interest and joy it was welcomed!—It was, as it were, an angel's visit! 


242 HISTORY OF THE [1835. 


the most efficient means and measures for the advancement of the Redeem- 
er’s kingdom was promoted—the talents and energies of the Connection 
were called into healthful action, and thus its prosperity and more rapid 
increase were effectually secured. The establishment of this periodical was, 
therefore, one of the best measures the Association ever took to develop its 
strength, extend its borders, enhance its influence, and to increase its use- 
fulness among sister Churches.* 

Bro. Ettinger’s residence being at a great distance from New Berlin, 
where the periodical was printed by Geo. Miller, he resigned his editorship 
already in the first year ; and thus the paper came, after it had existed 15 
months, into the hands of Rev. William W. Orwig, who edited it nearly 
seven years in succession, during which time both its circulation and 
usefulness greatly increased, although there was still room left for improve- 
ments, 

In addition to this, Conference resolved to have an edition of 4,000 
copies of the smaller hymn-book printed; a committee was appointed 
to examine “ Fletcher’s Appeal,’ and to decide about the expediency of 
getting this work translated into German.t In accordance with Confer- 
ence rule the General Conference was solemnly closed with prayer and the 
signing of the proceedings by all the participating members in token of 
willingness and acquiescence, as follows: Henry Niebhel, J. Geo. Zinser, 
John Seybert, Wm. W. Orwig, Philip Wagner, James Barber, John Brei- 
denstein, John ©. Reisner, Joseph Long, Chas. Hammer, John H. Yambert, 
Conrad Kring, Jacob Schnerr, Daniel Kehr, Solomon Miller, Geo. Brickley, 
Francis Hoffmann, Elias Stoever, Jos. M. Saylor. 

In consequence of the change of the times for the Conference sessions, 
the conference year of 1835-36 was shortened by two months; it had, 
notwithstanding, a greater increase than any former year, viz., 509. The 
membership of the entire Association at the end of this year, was 5,628. 


*) Itwas a remarkable phenomenon that these ‘““Albright-People,” who were regarded 
by certain self-important ecclesiastics as a very simple-minded people, so early under- 
took such a literary enterprise. The Association did not quite number 6000 members. 
Other denominations numbering their German members by tens of thousands, and 
with no lack of D. D.’s, had no German Church paper. The Christliche Botschafter 
is therefore the oldest German Church paper in America, and what is still more—it is 
the most successful. It has kept up the highest number of subscribers among its 
confreres in America, and is in a literary respect fully equal to any of them. Finan- 
cially it not only sustained itself from the beginning but in great part assisted in 
raising its younger brother—the Evangelical Messenger—and besides that furnished 
thousands of dollars to the support of poor preachers, and their widows and orphans. 
God grant unto the Botschafter a long life and still greater blessings! 

Tt) This excellent book was afterward published in German. It contains a series 
of irrefutable proofs of the moral depravity of fallen human nature, or original sin. 
It was intended to counteract Pelagianism, viz., the denial of inherited sinfulness, 
which had slyly crept into the views of some of the preachers, and it accomplished 
this object fully. 


1836. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 243 


§ 180. The Most Prosperous Year. 


Up to this time it seemed necessary to insert the annual stationing of 
the preachers into this history especially because the old conference record, 
consisting of a single copy was accessible to few. But now the Christliche 
Botschafter made its appearance, in which the stationing reports were pub- 
lished and whose volumes have been largely preserved. Conferences also 
increasing in number, these reports would become monotonous. Moreover, 
each Conference keeps its own record which is accessible to its members 
whenever necessary-—hence we regard it proper to omit the stationing 
reports from this time forward. 

Both Conferences held their annual sessions in 1836, in March, the 
Western beginning the 7th, and the Hastern the 28th of the month; the 
former in Jackson township, Wayne County, Ohio ; the latter at Rebersburg, 
Centre County, Pa. Four of the itinerants located, and eight new appli- 
cants were admitted on trial. The Hastern Conference numbered 30, the 
Western 25 itinerants, in all 55. Ten years before, in 1826, the entire 
number of itinerants had been 21. 


During this year, the Association prospered more than it had done in 
any previous year. Although the preceding year had a greater increase 
than any former one, yet this year the same was more than doubled. 
Nearly all circuits of both Conferences had a considerable increase of mem- 
bers ; in several places glorious revivals took place, and many circuits 
enlarged their borders by taking up new preaching places, and forming new 
classes. The Eastern Conference received 747, the Western 673 new 
members ; in all, 1420. The old Union circuit of the Eastern Conference 
had considerable additions this year, the result of an extensive revival, 
that occurred along the Susquehanna below Selinsgrove, under the superin- 
tendence of Daniel Berger and Christian Holl. During a camp-meeting, 
which was held there in August, a considerable number of precious souls 
had already been awakened and converted. Toward the close of December, 
and in the beginning of January, a protracted meeting was then held there 
in private houses, one day in this, the next in another place, which resulted 
in a number of conversions, some of which were of a very remarkable char- 
acter. The Strickler’s family, on the island in the Susquehanna, opposite 
the section of the country under consideration, were converted this year, 
and afterward added to Schuylkill circuit. 

It the City of Philadelphia also, the work made glorious progress this 
year. Divine service was held there in a large school-house, near the spot 
on which the church of the first society was afterward erected, between 
North 2nd and St. John’s streets, near Poplar lane. Toward Christmas a 
glorious revival began, which continued nearly all Winter, with but few 
interruptions. The society was strengthened thereby, and its influence 
greatly increased. At the close of the Conference year, in March, 1837, 


244 HISTORY OF THE [1836. 


the society numbered 124 members, and the prospects for the future were 
flattering. During this revival, one evening a woman, 94 years of age, 
made her appearance with others at the altar of prayer, and at the close of 
the service, professed to have found peace with God, rejoicing in his love. 
This, indeed, was entering into the vineyard of the Lord at the 
eleventh hour. 


§ 181. Introduction of Protracted Meetings. 


About this time the so-called “protracted meetings” were introduced 
into the Evangelical Association. Before this, the general and quarterly 
meetings usually lasted but two or three days, although several other 
Christian denominations had introduced such meetings long before. The 
cause for their introduction was as follows: It was often found, that not 
until the close of two or three days’ meetings would the audience become 
awakened and affected, and that if the meeting had been continued a few 
days longer, many would, in all probability have been converted, as exper- 
ience had often shown at camp-meetings, which generally lasted five, six 
and even eight days. Some of the brethren tried this method and met with 
very good success. | 

But like every new measure, this als found its opponents. It was 
objected that during such a meeting, other parts of the field would neces- 
sarily be neglected, that it would become a burden to the neighborhood. 
But as the good results of such meetings were published in the Church 
paper, they were soon advocated and tried by other brethren. Bro. Jacob 
Boas was one of the first to hold such a meeting. He held one near 
Conneaut Lake, Pa., at which about 30 persons were converted. Bro. Jacob 
Riegel also held such a meeting on Lake circuit in New York State, which 
lasted sixteen days, and resulted in the formation of a new class of 25 mem- 
bers. Bro. Riegel also published a strong article in favor of such meetings 
in the Botschafter. 

In consequence of these and other reports and commendations of such 
meetings, they increased rapidly, and in the course of a few years became 
quite general in the connection, proving a blessing to hundreds and 
thousands of souls, and contributing much to the rapid increase of the 
. Association. In several instances they lasted from four to six weeks, and 
were richly blessed of God. 

It cannot be denied, however, that they were, and still are, sometimes 
aoused, to the great detriment of the good cause ; for some preachers spent 
nearly all their time, or at least the greater part of it, in holding such 
meetings, and accomplished comparatively little, at the same time neg- 
lecting to enlarge their fields of labor, to take up new preaching places, and 
to fill their distant appointments. Others sometimes appoint a number of 
such meetings in advance, allowing for each the space of several weeks; 
and if the prospects are not very promising at the very outset, they bring 


1836. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 245 


them to a close, and then have no appointments for the rest of the time, 
and, as a matter of course—gohome. Thus, in many instances, a great deal 
of time is lost, and but little accomplished. The work of such meetings, is 
also sometimes too much forced ; and, frequently these meetings have of 
late not been as successful as formerly—especially in such places where 
they are often repeated. Their novelty has worn off, and their impres- 
sion is not so strong as formerly. For this reason some have opposed 
these meetings, while others have dropped them entirely. It is 
true, the earlier mode of operation has thereby been changed somewhat. At 
first it was the object of every service and prayer-meeting, to persuade 
mourners to come out and be converted, which was often accomplished. 
But now this is in too many places put off to the protracted meeting, and 
even then sometimes but little is done. The good “old measures” ought 
never to be dropped ; and it should be our aim to use, in‘connection with 
them, the “new ones’’ to the greatest possible advantage of the whole 
Church, 

That protracted meetings may sometimes be abused, to the great 
detriment of the cause of religion, both in the Evangelical Association and 
other denominations, is no reason against their proper use. And the 
assertion, that such meetings are often followed by times of spiritual 
drought, is, to some extent, true; but.this drought is no necessary conse- 
quence of them. Such a consequence is, as experience has often taught, 
always the fruit of mismanagement of such meetings; overdoing the 
exercises, dismissing the meeting at too late hours, exhaustion, dullness, 
etc.; and after such meetings are over, neglect of the regular services and 
of the conscientious use of the ordinary means of grace. Under these cir- 
cumstances a re-action is quite natural and unavoidable ; but for this the 
protracting of the meeting can never be blamed. 

We would add to the above, that some preachers have fallen into the 
error not to expect conversions except in protracted meetings, and they do 
not preach with that faith which gives the word immediate effect, nor do 
they labor for immediate conversions, The preacher ought to expect of 
every sermon that the word will “ not return void”. He must be filled with 
the Holy Spirit and preach with the demonstration of the Spirit and with 
power, then will be repeated the scene in the house of Cornelius under the 
preaching of Peter: “While Peter yet spake these words the Holy Ghost 
feli on all them which heard the word "—Acts 10, 44. In this Spirit, and 
with such results generally, did our Evangelical fathers preach the Gospel. 


§ 182. A Remarkable Camp-meeting. 


in the month of August, 1836, a camp-meeting was held on the farm 
of General Henry Mertz, near Allentown, Pa.; and as this was the first 
camp-meeting held in that part of the country, it caused quite a stir at the 
eastern end of the State. Great crowds of people flocked together. Allen- 


246 HISTORY OF THE (183%, 


town especially furnished a large contingent to the immense gathering. 
- (Such a meeting held in the woods seemed to them like one of the great 
wonders of the world. ) 

The word of God was preached in the power and demonstration of the 
Spirit. Bro. John Breidenstein—a valiant soldier for Christ and a powerful 
preacher—preached on 2 Corinthians 6,2: “Behold, now is the accepted 
time, now is the day of salvation’; John Seybert preached with power on 
John 3. 2-5; Jacob Schnerr on Titus 2. 11-13; Jacob Saylor on Ephesians 
2.19, 20; Joseph M. Saylor on Psalm 40,1-4. Aiso John P. Leib and 
others preached with great clearness. Bro. Seybert had “victory” on the 
first evening ; we remember well how impressively he exclaimed in the 
language of the Psalmist: “The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.” 
Verily those men were zealots for the “ house of the Lord” in the pure sense 
of the word. 

The visiting people were struck with wonder at the neat, white muslin 
tents which stood in regular order among the leafy trees, shaped hke smal? 
one-story houses. A farmer stepped into the tent of Charles Yeakel, and 
inspected it closely for some five minutes, and then exclaimed in the Penn- 
sylvanian dialect : “Well, nau, dess iss ah scheh exempel!” (Well, now, 
this is a fine example.) A highly talented, pious sister from Orwigsburg, 
Pa., whose name was Catharine Reihle—quaintly known as the “German 
Catharine,” because she was a native of Hurope—frequently prayed in 
public services with such remarkable unction as astonished the people who 
had never before heard a woman pray in public worship. This sister also 
talked privately to persons about their souls’ salvation in a way that won 
respectful attention.) A great many debates arose among the people on the 
ground ; some said: “ These preachers tell the truth, and we are wrong.” 
This would anger others who contradicted and reviled. One afternoon a 
disturbance was made during worship, when Gen. Henry Mertz stepped 
among the people and with a friendly but serious voice told them that 
they had no right to transgress the law of the land by disturbing divine 
worship, and that it behooved them as American citizens to respect and 
honor religious liberty by their example, and that they as Church-people 
and neighbors, ought to conduct themselves in a respectful manner—“for 
these people,” said he, “hold worship here in God’s temple of nature ; they 
do not intend to harm any one, and all of you have liberty to hear their 
preaching and then judge for yourselves.” Gen. Mertz was tall and stately 
in person, there was something military in his appearance, and he was 
withal a man of renown and much experience. His short, impressive 
address soon restored quiet among the restless throng. 

Some remarkable conversions took place. A very proud lady came under 
conviction and deep distress, so that she sank to the ground seemingly uncon- 
scious. As she was thus lying in a tent, surrounded by a crowd of people, 
she seemed suddenly to wake up, tore off her fashionable head-dress and 


1836.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 247 


threw it away. When she became fully conscious again, she asked one of 
the sisters what had become of her ornaments. When she was told what 
she had done, she exciaimed: “I felt as if fiery coals were burning me 
there, and I wiped them away!” A respectable man from the neighboring 
village of Emaus, named George Kemmerer was convinced by the preached 
word. He said: “These men preach the truth, and these people who sit 
here so humbly and devoutly are in the right way.” He was deeply con- 
victed, went home, was converted to God and remained faithful until his 
death. There were other similar cases. 

The “friends” had come together from many distant places, and 
became so closely united in love that it was difficult for them to sepa- 
rate. The exercises of the last night were continued until daybreak, and 
then a farewell service was held, by forming a circle and shaking hands 
amidst the singing of farewell hymns, accompanied by tears and shouting, 
and many mutual promises to meet each other again in the “ New Jerusa- 
jem” above. (' They started for home, strengthened in faith, willing to bear 
the cross, endure persecution and win souls for Christ—which was regarded 
as a sacred duty by each “converted one” in those times. 


§ 183. Increase—Death of Bro. John Ressner. 


The number of members at the close of the Conference year was 6,665, 
an increase of 1,037 over the previous year. This was very encouraging to 
the entire ministry in prosecuting the work and also confirmed the hope 
that the new regulations adopted by General Conference had received 
divine approval and would result in great good to the Church. 

Bro. John Reessner, a useful preacher of the ‘Association, closed his 
earthly career this year. In 1828 he was converted, in the State of Ohio, 
and afterward joined the Church. In 1831 he came to Pennsylvania to 
attend the session of the Eastern Conference, and was received into the 
itinerancy. He was of slender stature, about six feet high, of a sanguine 
temperament and witty, and almost universally beloved on account of his 
affability. For want of practice and because he had read but little, his 
preaching was at first feeble ; but by assiduity in reading and searching, 
he made rapid progress and soon became a very useful preacher. He was 
always active in his calling, and was especially intent on seeking new 
preaching places, for which he was particularly qualified by his philanthropy 
and courageousness. Revivals were his element, and he delighted in work- 
ing with the mourners at the altar. But he impaired his health by over- 
exerting himself in his exercises, and exposing himself too much to the 
weather. Thus he once almost froze to death on horseback, on a very cold 
winter day. On dismounting and entering a house, he fainted away. There 
he probably contracted his disease, which was consumption. He traveled 
for two years in succession on York circuit, and he was generally beloved. 
In 1833, be served on Lancaster circuit of the Eastern Conference ; but 


248 HISTORY OF THE [1836, 


could no longer perform his duties properly, on account of an increasing 
cough and debility. At the next Conference session he located. He then 
returned to the State of Ohio, made an attempt to travel again, but it was 
‘only for a short time. His disease became worse, till in 1836 he was con- 
fined to his bed, and after a great deal of severe suffering, died peacefully 
and happy in the Lord, January 5th, 1837, in the County of Wayne, Ohio, 


§ 184. The Sixth (a Special) Session of General Conference.—Founding of the 
Publishing House. 


Some of the preachers having for several years prior to this General 
Conference, looked upon the re-opening of a printing establishment and 
book-bindery of our own as practicable and advantageous; and as the 
publication of the “Christliche Botschafter”, the introduction of Sunday- 
schools, and the more rapid increase of the Association, which increased 
also the demand for books, seemed to make this measure really necessary; 
therefore the Eastern Conference, at its session in March, 1836, appointed 
a Special General Conference, to be held in November next, mainly for this 
purpose. Each elder in the ministry still had a right to attend General 
Conference, and was entitled to a vote; but notwithstanding this, only a 
comparatively small number were in attendance. 

Conference met on Monday, Nov. 14th, 1836, in the house of John 
Ferner, in Somerset township, Somerset County, Pa., and closed its session 
on Saturday following, Nov. 19th. According to the directions of our 
Discipline, it was organized by electing Henry Niebel chairman, who ap- . 
pointed Charles Hammer secretary. 

The Publishing House for which this Conference had been called, 
claimed and received its main attention. But although principally con- 
vened for this object, yet the proposition to create a printing establishment 
and book-bindery of our own, met with great opposition; it is true, this 
opposition proceeded from but few members, but they wielded a powerful 
influence. They pronounced the enterprise to be premature, unsafe, and 
impracticable—called to mind the former attempt in the matter and its 
failure, sparing no efforts to induce Conference to drop the subject, which 
almost succeeded. Even the warmest advocates and friends of the enter- 
prise, at one time vacillated somewhat during the discussion; but soon 
recovering they then maintained the practicability and advantages of the 
undertaking with all possible arguments at their command, and with the 
greatest assurance of final success. At last, after protracted debates, it was 
resolved by a majority, that the year following a printing office and book- 
bindery be established at New Berlin, Union County, Pa.; and if sufficient 
money could not be raised to purchase a lot and erect a suitable building 
thereon, it was resolved, that a building be rented for the purpose, and to 
proceed in the matter as well as they could. 

Philip Wagner, John Rank, and William W. Orwig, were elected trus- 


1836. | EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 249 


tees, to superintend the founding and managing of said Publishing House. 
Bro. Orwig was, in addition to this, appointed agent to solicit contributions 
for said purpose, within the district of the Eastern Conference ; he was also 
elected Editor of the “Christliche Botschafter””, and General Agent of the 
Kstablishment. He could, however, not enter upon the duties of the latter 
offices before April, 1837, as he had to devote all the time up to that period 
to the collection of funds. This accumulation of duties, imposed upon him 
in founding and managing the Establishment, he looked upon, to some 
extent, as a punishment for his enthusiasm in the enterprise.* The pre- 
siding elders and superintending ministers were also requested to assist in 
collecting, in those parts which the agent might be unable to visit. 

Simultaneously with the publication of the resolutions of this Confer- 
ence, concerning the Printing Establishment, the following editorial appeal 
to the entire membership for a liberal support of the enterprise appeared in 
the Periodical of December, 1836 : — 

“While we lay before our friends the principal resolutions of General 
Conference, we would make the following suggestions with regard to their 
resolutions and propositions to establish a printing office and book bindery 
of our own. That such an enterprise involves heavy outlays, all can 
readily imagine ; and that the Evangelical Association has no funds on 
hand to meet these expenditures, is likewise known to all. Those there- 
fore, who look upon such an establishment as useful and necessary, will 
not deem it strange to be called upon for help, which, we trust, they will 
feel disposed to impart ; and this the more so, if they will bear in mind, 
that what they contribute toward this object, is in reality the same, as what 
they are in the habit of giving toward the support of the Gospel ; for, 
besides the benefit derived from good books, to be printed in the Establish- 
ment, the entire avails arising therefrom, will be applied toward the support 
and further spread of the Gospel. Hence we confidently expect that our 
brethren and friends, who have always been ready to support every good 
cause, will in the present instance also have open hearts and hands, 
that the Kingdom of God may be built up everywhere, and his honor 
promoted.” | 

A subscription for said purpose was immediately opened at the session 
of General Conference, and the majority of the brethren subscribed very 
liberally, considering the times and their circumstances, and most of them 
paid cash their full amounts subscribed.—On Christmas following, the 
agent commenced to solicit subscriptions among the membership, during a 
general meeting in Rebersburg, Center County, Pa., and $264 were sub- 
scribed. The following four days he traveled in Penn’s Valley of the same 
county, preached every evening, and $200 more were subscribed. During 
the watch-night on the last of December, in Buffalo Valley, he received 


*) Bro. Orwig was the chief advocate for establishing the “ Botschafter’’ and the 
Publishing House. 


250 HISTORY OF THE [1836, 


$50; and during the following five weeks he traveled throughout the Coun- 
ties of Schuylkill, Lebanon, Berks and Lehigh, as far as Philadelphia, and 
over $1000 were subscribed. The friends, both rich and poor, generally 
manifested great readiness to support the enterprise ; and it seemed as if 
the Lord directed them in so doing. Orwigsburg, Lebanon and other vicin- 
ities, and Upper Milford, especially excelled by their liberality. Also in 
the Counties of York and Cumberland, which the agent, on account of in- 
disposition, could not visit, the preachers received many liberal contribu- 
tions, as well as in many other places within the Hastern Conference. In 
the Western Conference no general efforts were made in the matter; yet 
some of its circuits contributed liberally toward it, especially that of New 
Lancaster.” : 

But before much had been done by way of collecting, and ere it wa 
known how the agent would succeed, the trustees purchased a house and 
lot, in Water street, New Berlin, near the church of the Association, for 
three hundred dollars, at a sheriff’s sale. But when it was ascertained that 
the support of the enterprise would outstrip the most sanguine expectations 
of its friends, said property was exchanged for a spacious brick building in 
New Market street, and $1600 were given to boot. This was a bold, 
unexpected step, which was approved by many, but also censured by not a 
few. Those who did not favor the enterprise and gave nothing toward it, 
were loudest in their censures. The trustees, however, were not discouraged 
thereby, but purchased the necessary materials, and prepared the house 
both for carrying on the business, and for the General Agent and the 
printer to reside therein, both of whom moved into it the following Spring ; 
toward the close of the same year, the new printing office went into opera- 
tion. As has already been stated, the printing and book binding was done, 
from the failure of the first Publishing House up to this time, by George 
Miller. 

With regard to the editor of the “Christliche Botschafter,” it was 
resolved, that he shall in future always be elected by General Conference, 
be eligible only for two terms in succession, each of 4 years, and that his 
salary shall be as much as an itinerant actually receives, not what he is 
entitled to by Discipline, and the sum of an unmarried itinerant’s salary for 
his board. Thus his salary was, at first, from $90 to $110, besides from $45 
to $§5 for his board. But, as it was impossible for him to subsist on this 
small allowance, he received additions of from $25 to $35 several times, 


*) The preachers gave liberally to this enterprise. As Bro. Christian Hummel 
once said at a missionary meeting, that preachers should respect the admonition by 
Paul to Titus: ‘‘ In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works.” This they 
did at this General Conference and many members followed their example. The fact 
that the Ev. Association heartily welcomed and supported the publication of the 
Botschafter and the founding of a Publishing House at a time when she had no mem: 
ber that was considered worth more than $50,000, speaks ioudly for their sound sense 
and intelligence. 


1836. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 251 


and at the close of seven years, another addition of $100 from General 
Conference. During the first two years he also filled the office of General 
Agent ; but as afterward a General Agent was elected, he received the same 
salary General Conference had fixed upon for the editor. The other 
employes of the Publishing House were paid the usual prices for their 
labor. 

In consequence of this economical arrangement and administration, 
the House soon yielded considerable profits, which were partly distributed 
among the conferences, partly applied to the increase of the business stock, 
something which had never before taken place while the printing and 
binding had been done elsewhere. These results satisfied all, that the 
possession of a Publishing House was a great advantage, and thus all 
opposition ceased. 

This Conference resolved likewise that an edition of 2000 copies of 
John C€. Reisner’s German school-book shall be published. This book 
afterward passed through several improved editions, has been stereotyped, 
and is held in very high reputation ; also a new edition of 4000 copies of 
the smaller hymn-book was ordered to be printed. 

It was resolved, that the two Annual Conferences shall hereafter be 
independent of each other in their proceedings, the contributions for the 
support of the preachers alone excepted. Up to this time, the Western 
Conference had been entirely dependent on the Eastern in its proceedings ; 
the latter body having the power to approve and to reject them, as it 
deemed best.* 

The contributions toward the support of the ministers, however, re- 
mained the joint property of the two Conferences, and were equally divided 
between them, in proportion to the number of itinerants composing each 
Conference ; as the support was still less in the Western than in the Eastern 
Conference, and therefore a certain amount was sent every year from the 
latter to the former, to make up their deficiency.f Yet the Conferences 
were required to send each other copies of their proceedings annually. It 
was also resolved, that the Western Conference shall annually send two 
delegates to the Hastern, to compose, with three members of the latter body 
a committee whose duty it shall be, to examine the books that may be laid 
before it, for publication. 


*) This arrangement was in its time quite proper, as the Western Conference was 
quite weak in its beginning and was in many respects dependent upon the Hast- 
ern. But the change made by this General Conference was now timely because the 
Western Conference had become strong enough, and had enough experienced preachers 
in her ranks to conduct the work independently. The relation of dependency was 
abolished and in no other case adopted, because ere long the Church had bishops who 
did exercise a general superintendency, also over the new Conferences. 

T) This financial dependency also ceased three years later (1839), when both the 
Eastern and Western Conference came to an end by the division of the work into 
three equally privileged Annual Conferences. 17 

( 


252 HISTORY OF THE [1836. 


The rule in our Discipline, requiring the superintending minister to 
give recommendations to those members, who move from one circuit to 
another * was also established by this General Conference, and perfect 
liberty of conscience granted to the members of the Society with regard to 
baptism, both as to who are the proper subjects for baptism, and how this 
rite is to be administered. 

Charles Hammer was elected presiding elder, in the place of William 
W. Orwig, and Samuel Witt was ordained as deacon. 

The time of meeting for the next General Conference was for the first 
time fixed upon by this body —a practice which has been adhered to ever 
since. It was to convene in Center Co., Pa., in March, 1839.) 


General Conference was closed in the usual solemn manner, and the 
proceedings signed as a token of acquiescence and obedience, by Henry 
Niebel, Charles Hammer, Samuel Baumgartner, Solomon G. Miller, John G. 
“inser, Elias Stoever, Henry Bucks, John Young, Jacob Schnerr, Charles 
Hesser, John Seybert, William W. Orwig, Philip Wagner, Daniel Brickley, 
George Brickley, Francis Hoffmann, John J. Kopp, John P. Leib and 
Daniel Kehr. 

The acts and proceedings of this General Conference were of great 
importance and value to the connection, especially its act with regard to 
the Printing Establishment and Book-bindery. The effects of this measure 
have been highly beneficial to the Society, and contributed much to pro- 
mote its increase. During the first years, the press was almost constantly 
in operation. Besides our hymn-books, Discipline, a number of Sabbath- 
school books, etc., the following larger works were also printed at a subse- 
quent period in our Establishment, namely, a German pocket Bible, Ram- 
bach’s German translation of Collier’s Introduction to the Sacred Scriptures, 
and several works of considerable size for private individuals. In a few 
years hundreds of thousands of books had proceeded from our Establish- 
ment—more, alas! than could be sold, Notwithstanding this, there was 
sometimes a want of some kind of books in certain places. This, however, 
was not owing to the Hstablishment being unable to meet every want of 
the Church in this respect; but it was the consequence of the unequal 
distribution of the books; too many being sent to some places, and 
not enough to others, in consequence of the very deficient book system 
of the Association in those days. Especially was the cause of Sunday- 
schools furthered in the connection, by the Establishment, which supplied 
these schools with the most necessary books, It distributed also at as early a 
period as the close of the first year of its existence, $500 of its income to 


*) This regulation was notintended that our preachers should give certificates to such 
members as wish to withdraw from the Church under dissatisfaction, or for the purpose 
of joining another Church. Because of the emigration of many members from the 
Bast to the West, it became necessary to give them certificates “from one circuit ta 
another,” as the phrase goes, so that they might not be lost to the Church. 


1837.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 253 


both Conferences, for the support of the indigent itinerants, and their poor 
widows and orphans. This removed the prejudices against the Establish- 
ment, which had yet been lingering in many a mind, and secured, in general, 
a fair reputation for it. At the close of 16 years of its existence, it had 
distributed $18,000 among the conferences for said purposes, and increased 
its own capital to more than $30,000. Thus, the success and usefulness of 
the Establishment exceeded by far the most sanguine expectations of its 
founders, warmest advocates and friends. Truly, tue Society ought to be 
thankful to Almighty God for his rich blessings vouchsafed to this Hstab- 
lishment, and to rejoice that he has done great things for them also in this 
enterprise,* 


§ 185. The Year 1837—Progress—Victories. 


The Western Conference this year held its session in Green Township, 

Stark County, Ohio, March 6-11, and the Eastern at New Berlin, Pa., March 
27 to April 3rd. Three preachers located and five applicants were re- 
ceived into the itinerancy. The salary of a single preacher amounted to 
$56.40. ; 
In the Eastern Conference two new circuits were formed, viz.: Lyken’s 
circuit, out of the western end of Schuylkill, and Dansville circuit, out of 
the western end of Lake circuit. Although the increase of membership 
was not as great as in the previous year, yet the work made evident pro- 
gress, and the Association materially extended its borders. 


At this time there prevailed a remarkable spirit among the preachers 
to extend and enlarge the boundaries of the Church. Many of them made 
it a special object to seek new appointments, and to extend their sphere of 
labor more or less each year, no matter how large it already was ; although 
they had a sufficient number of appointments to fill they were not satisfied 
unless they took up a number of new appointments annually in other parts 
of the country.t 

The presiding elders especially ‘exerted themselves to obtain new 
preaching points, and above all others John Seybert who then served almost 
continually as presiding elder. His example induced many others to follow 
his steps. His district extended over several counties in eastern Pennsyl- 
vania, but he enlarged it greatly during his four year’s service. We insert 
his own lucid report on this subject, as follows :— 


*) The history and development of the Publishing House of the Evangelical Asso- 
ciation is of such great interest and importance that it is deemed proper to devote a 
special section to it at the close of this volume. 

+) The author well-remembers when the two cireuit preachers in making their 
rounds, met at his father’s house, in those years, how they rejoiced when they could 
report a new appointment somewhere, as if they had found great spoil. They 
planned, prayed, and labored unceasingly for the salvation of souls, and when conver- 
sions took place, their ‘joy was full.” 


254 HISTORY OF THE [1837. 


“As the time is fast approaching, when I must bid farewell to Canaan 
district, I feel myself inwardly constrained to publish in the ‘ Botschafter’ 
a few of those things which the Lord has wrought for us, during the last 
four years. When I took charge of the district, I found three circuits, viz., 
Schuylkill, Lebanon, and Lancaster. In Philadelphia there was but a slight 
beginning of a work of grace. The circuits of Schuylkill and Lebanon, I 
found in a good condition, and the prospects for conversions were fair ; but 
on Lancaster circuit matters looked gloomy at most of the preaching places, 
except those in the eastern end, where the prospects for conversions were 
favorable. As the district was small, I devoted during the first two years 
part of my time to seeking new preaching places, in the dark regions toward 
the Kast and North-east ; and God crowned my efforts abundantly, so that 
our borders were soon enlarged about sixty miles. We then united every- 
where, to enlarge our borders, till we succeeded, by the help of God, in — 
extending them so, that there are now six circuits, where four years ago 
there were but three; and in Philadelphia, where there was but a slight 
beginning of a work of grace among the Germans, there is now a 
flourishing, considerable society, and a large Sunday-school ; the whole 
district, on which four years ago but seven itinerants were traveling, is 
now numbering fourteen. We have succeeded, by the help of God, in 
penetrating far and wide into the formerly so dark counties of Bucks, North- 
ampton, Lehigh, Monroe, as far as Wayne. 

“At Allentown, Lehigh County, the work of grace has also made a 
beginning, and the prospects for future conversions are good ; in Monroe 
County two new classes have already been formed. Here we had another 
illustration of what can be accomplished, if the itinerant and local preachers 
unitedly strive to enlarge their borders, to seek new preaching places, and 
to proclaim the pure doctrine in dark regions. Oh, that the Lord would 
increase the zeal of all his anointed servants among us, and in all other 
Christian denominations, to discharge their duty, until the earth shall be full 
of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea!” * 

The following report from Somerset circuit on which three ministers 
traveled{ during this conference year, shows the zeal of some of the minis- 
ters to extend their boundaries. 

“ Last Spring, when we arrived on this circuit, two of us set out at 
once for Virginia, in order to obtain new preaching places, as not enough 
appointments had been given out for us. On our journey, we called at 
a house and were told by its inmates, that their house was open for religious 
meetings. We left an appointment, continued our journey, and found 
entrance at two more places. Qn our return we preached in the first men- 


*) Christliche Botschafter, Vol. 3, No. 5. One can feel while reading this report 
what a spirit actuated this ecclesiastical captain. His like was not to be found in all 
the land! 

+) John Young, Aaron Yambert and Benjamin Eply. 


1837.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 2598 


tioned house to a large audience. The next time, one went to Virginia 
through Maryland and found open doors ; also in other places, at which we 
calied, we were received, Some entreated us during the meeting, to preach 
in their houses also; and others sent us requests from a distance, so that 
we have already taken up seateen new preaching places. We also rejoiced, 
when a number of persons came to our meetings during harvest on week- 
days, from a distance of seven or eight miles ; and a certain man once said 
to his laborers, ‘ Come, let us go to the meeting ; that is better than making 
hay.’ In these new places some seem to have been wounded deeply, and 
others have begun to seek the Lord in prayer. Although we met with 
great opposition from ungodly, unconverted parsons, yet the prospects for 
conversions are favorable. The Lord was with us in our journey, so that 
the word preached was better received than in those places where it has 
become a trite subject, and the people do not deem it worth while any more 
to go a short distance to hear it. But also some of the old places are in a 
prosperous condition.”* 


Many more such examples might be given; and it is greatly desirable, 
that this spirit to extend the kingdom of God and to promote the best 
interests of the Society, would be rekindled among us, and become more 
general than it has ever been. It is true, there have always been some in 
our midst, who were filled with this spirit ; but they were generally only the 
minority.f 

In Philadelphia the work progressed remarkably well during this year, 
under the charge of the beloved and esteemed Charles Hesser, More than 
a hundred members were received, and notwithstanding the many cares and 
troubles arising from the building of a new church, everything prospered. 
Bro. Hesser labored there for two years in succession very satisfactorily ; 
and after an absence of a little more than a year, nearly two years again. 
But this year was the most prosperous of his time of service there. The 
church was dedicated to the service of God on the Ist of October, and Bro. 


? 


Seybert made the following remarks upon it in the “Botschafter ”:— 


“On Sunday, Oct. 1st, our church in Philadelphia was dedicated. The 
services were continued during the week, and a number of attentive hearers 
were always in attendance, some of whom were awakened and converted. 
The house is 60 by 36; it is built very plain, but well and conveniently 
arranged, The basement is divided into a large room for holding prayer- 
meetings and the Sunday-school, and two smaller rooms for class-meet- 
ings; the upper story forms a very spacious and convenient hall for 
preaching.” 

On Lebanon circuit, especially in the town of Lebanon, a glorious 
revival took place this year, under the charge of Francis Hoffman and Jacob 


*) Christliche Botschafter, Vol. 3, No. 1. 
_ ‘$) This minority is, alas, quite too smali. 


256 HISTORY OF THE (1837. 


Vogelbach. With regard to the work in the town, the latter makes the 
following remarks in a report published in the “Botschafter”:— 


“We held a protracted meeting at Lebanon, from Nov. 24th to Decem- 
ber 5th. Here the light of truth has shone for some time in brightness ; 
had the inhabitants made room for it and followed their convictions, most 
of them would now have the love and life of God in their hearts. But the 
conditions which Jesus lays down for his followers, to forsake everything, 
were too hard for many; yet the truth was too powerful, the light too bright, 
to go backward. The motto finally was, forward! Arrangements were 
made in churches and school-houses ; one step more was taken. May God 
help to move still more onward! The struggle between light and darkness 
has come to a happy issue ; now it is between life and death, and O that. 
life may prove victorious! Our meeting now fell in the time of the special 
gracious visitation of God, and we had heavenly times; the believers were 
melted together in fervent love; they supported the work of God with all 
their might, and the Lord gave the increase, so that daily such were added 
as are saved, The number of new converts rose as high as 45. We were 
often on the point of giving out, under the pressure of our continued 
exercises which lasted till midnight; yet the nearness of our God was so 
refreshing to our souls and bodies, that we could endure it. On Tuesday, 
Dec. 5th, which was the last evening, we enjoyed the most glorious times. 
Kleven sisters were baptized in the church. All present were pervaded 
with a feeling of the solemnity and importance of the occasion, heaven 
seemed to be open over us, and all felt the presence of God. All praying 
hearts that were present swam in emotions and happy sensations, After 
this solemn transaction, we held a love-feast, when our Heavenly Father 
poured out his blessings abundantly upon us. We then invited the 
mourners, to make the measure of our joys full; and in order to render the 
glory of this night perfect, God granted to some more mourning souls 
peace and pardon. His holy Name be praised for it! Now then see, what 
God has done. Oh! where shall we find words to express it? Though 
every pulse-beat were praise, it would not suffice! Reader! do thou 
also help us praise the Lord.” 


The old Lancaster circuit in Pennsylvania, which, several years before, 
had been declining very much, was at this time in a very flourishing 
condition again, Considerable revivals had taken place in different 
places, and seventy new members were added to its ranks during the 
year. 


On Cumberland circuit, the work of grace still continued to prosper, 
especially at the Leathart Springs, and in Fishing Creek Valley, as well as 
m several other places. Also Shenandoah circuit, in Virginia, enlarged its 
borders, and received a considerable increase during the year. 


in the West, the work progressed likewise gloriously in several places, 


1837.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 257 


In a letter, dated Bucyrus, Sept. 25th, 1837, Bro. Absalom B. Schaefer writes 
of Crawford circuit, Ohio, as follows:— 

“The work of conversion is still progressing on our circuit, and about 
40 souls have already found peace with God. Our camp-meetings were 
crowned with success. Our circuit has been greatly enlarged. We have 
received Bro. Fr. Best for our assistant here, and hope to realize a plentiful 
harvest before we leave these borders.” 

Of Columbiana circuit, Bro. Elias Stoever writes in a letter, dated 
Dec. 26th, 1837, as follows :— 

“Qn this circuit, many souls have been converted to God this year, 
and they now rejuice with the people of God for what the Lord has done 
for them, viz., for having delivered them from the dominion and power of 
darkness, and translated them into the kingdom of his dear Son. 

“In old Harmony, Butler County, Pa., the work of God has spread 
wonderfully. In the town, a few years ago, matters looked very dark and 
gloomy, in a religious point of view; as experimental religion was a rare 
thing among the people. One reason of this was, want of instruction ; but 
God, who will have all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of 
the truth, has caused the light of the Gospel to shine unto these people 
also. A few years ago, when the servants of God came to this neighbor- 
hood, they were at once kindly received ; and it seemed as if no one was 
filled with prejudices against them. Houses and hearts were opened 
to them, churches were at their service, and the societies and their 
pastors came to hear the word of life. Words almost fail to express, how 
attentively the people listened to the word preached. But, though only 
the fourth part fell on good ground, yet the divine seed of the word of God 
soon brought forth fruit. Many took the word to heart, and saw that the 
life they had hitherto led, was not good, They now came in contrition of 
heart to God, and by faith in Christ obtained the forgiveness of their sins, 
and joy in the Holy Ghost. Parents and children praise God for the 
glorious work which he has begun in and among them.” 


§ 186, Beginning of the Work in Ilinois. 


In this year a preacher of our Association visited for the first time the 
State of [linois ; although a number of our members from Pennsylvania 
had emigrated thither some time before. The first had gone to Chicago 
and vicinity, in the Fall of 1836; and these were followed by others in 
the ensuing Spring. At the same time some had also gone to Mount Uar- 
mel, Wabash County ; where, as it appears from the records at hand, the 
first conversions took place by means of our ministry. Brother John Butz 
writes in a letter, dated June 21st, 1837, among other things, the following : 
«Thus I am like a solitary bird upon the roof, and meet with sore opposi- 
tion ; but the Lord has thus far been with us. Three souls have been 
converted to God, who had been awakened by our instrumentality ; 


258 HISTORY OF THE [1837. 


two of them obtained peace in our prayer-meetings. The Lord alone be 
praised for it!” 

These members had come from Lehigh County ; but the others, who 
had settled near Chicago and vicinity, were from Warren, Pa. As the work 
mainly took its beginning in the last mentioned part of that State, and 
thence extended itself, we here insert a somewhat detailed report, received 
mostly from Bro, John J. Esher. He describes the emigration of the 
members of the Warren society, their journey and arrival in Illinois, as 
follows :— 

“ Late in the Fall of 1836, some of the members of this society emi- 
grated to the far West and settled in and around Chicago, then numbering 
but 4,000 inhabitants. The following Spring a number of families followed 
them, who, at their arrival in Illinois, separated into three companies ; the 
first, which was the most numerous, settled along the river Des Plaines, near. 
Wheeling, Cook County; the second, in and near Naperville of the same 
county; and the third in Henry County, Illinois ; and thus the foundation 
was laid of the three societies at these places, which have existed to this 
day. Before their setting out from Warren, their preacher, Bro. Henry 
Bucks, advised them, that as soon as they had arrived at their new 
homes and permanently settled, they should form themselves into classes 
and elect leaders, till a preacher would visit them. While on their journey, 
they did not in the least neglect their religious meetings, except when it 
was absolutely unavoidable. Prayer in the family, prayer and class-meetings 
and the keeping of the Sabbath, were as exactly and scrupulously observed 
by them, as before at home. That blessed prayer-meeting is still in fresh 
remembrance, which they held on board the steamboat. There were about 
1100 passengers on board, many of whom crowded around them, and 
exclaimed with deep emotions : ‘ Truly, these people are Christians indeed !’ 
Thus these members of the Evangelical Association first emigrated to the 
State of Illinois, bringing along their sanctuary; therefore the Lord was 
also with them and blessed them. 

“In compliance with the advice of their preacher, immediately after 
their arrival, they formed themselves into classes, according to the direc- 
tions of our Discipline, and elected leaders. The class at Des Plaines 
consisted of 28 members, including a number of persons and families, 
named; Hsher, Ott, Trier, Schally, Krienbuehl, Stanger, Strubler, and 
Luther ; that at Naperville of about 15 members, named: Esher, Wirth, 
Gross, Strubler, Knopf, etc.; and that at Rock River of about 10 members, 
named: Schuler, Arnet and Rink.” 

With regard to time, these organizations took place as follows: those 
at Des Plaines and Naperville, in June, 1837; and that at Rock River, one 
year later. Thus, before a preacher had come to this part of the country, 
the order of the Evangelical Association was introduced as completely as it 
was possible, without the presence of a minister. Prayer-meetings on 


1837. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIA TION. 259 


Sabbath-day, and during the week, class and extra devotional meetings 
were regularly held, and, in general, great earnestness was manifested in 
the cause of religion. The only reasons which induced these people to 
emigrate from Pennsylvania to this, then but little known, and, to a great 
extent, still wild section of country, were the sterility of their farms near 
Warren, and their inability to purchase properties in settled districts of the 
country, where the soil is good. It was therefore a matter of necessity 
with them, to look out for homes in a wilderness. They were far from a 
desire to become wealthy; all they sought was, to make a living with « 
moderate share of labor. 

“The country where our emigrants settled, fully answered their expec- 
tations, with but few exceptions; although the greatest part was still 
uninhabited, and even the few settlements that had been made, had as yet 
received but few impressions of cultivation, almost everything being yet in 
its primitive romantic beauty. The many wants and inconveniences that 
are almost constantly incident to the lives of the first settlers in new 
countries, were shared by our friends, and that in a high degree, as the 
great bank swindling took place in those years (1836-1840), in the United 
States. But, great as these inconveniences were, the settlers made but 
little account of them, having expected nothing else. They felt, however, 
far more keenly the want of the privileges of the sanctuary, which they had 
enjoyed in their former homes. For, besides their own, in those days there 
was no other German Christian society in the whole northern half of the 
State of Lllinois, nor in the territory of Wisconsin ; and there was nowhere 
divine service held in those parts, in the German language. The prayer- 
meetings of our people were the first regular religious meetings in that 
language, in the West. Nor was the state of things in this respect any 
better among the English settlers. From these facts, it is easy to conceive 
in what condition, in a religious point of view, the scattered German settlers 
in and about Chicago must have been. The first effect of this state of 
things, was an entire disregard of the Sabbath ; in consequence of which, 
ungodliness and vices of various descriptions, as intemperance, for- 
nication, cursing and swearing, cheating, etc., increased to an alarming 
extent; so much so, that he who excelled in wickedness, was the lion 
of the day. 

“Under these circumstances, the panting of our small Christian band 
after their religious teachers was continually increasing. They would 
speak of them day and night, and pray the Lord incessantly, so to order it 
that one of the preachers would visit them. God also heard their prayers, 
and as early as July of that year, Bro. Jacob Boas, who was stationed on 
Miami circuit that year, which extended into the State of Indiana, 
made his appearance among them, to their inexpressible joy. On seeing 
Bro. Boas, with whom they had already become acquainted in Pennsylvania, 
some of them were so greatly surprised, that they could scarcely believe 


260 HISTORY OF THE [1837. 


their own senses, hesitating to decide whether it was his spirit or himself. 
Never before, we dare say, had a man of God been more welcomed, 
and never had a preacher of the Gospel caused more joy than Bro. Boas by 
_his appearance among these people. With tears of joy they thanked God, 
that he had answered their prayers, and not left them destitute, which they 
had already begun to apprehend.* 


“July 23rd, 1837, after a difficult and dangerous journey of several 

hundred miles, Bro. Boas arrived safe at Chicago, where he met with some 
of the young brethren and sisters, that were servants in that place ; 
and the following day he reached Bro. Jacob Esher’s sen., at Des Plaines, 
near Wheeling, Cook County, Illinois, where he was received with 
ecstasy. | ; 
“Qn the 25th, the third day after his arrival, the friends assembled at 
11 o’clock, A. M., and Bro. Boas preached at Bro. Jacob Hsher’s the first 
evangelical sermon in German, within what is now the Illinois Conference, 
from the words of Jesus: ‘I will see you again, and your heart shall 
rejoice, and your joy no one taketh from you.’ John 16, 22. Great was 
their joy, caused by the good word of the Gospel ; and the Lord blessed 
his children so abundantly, that they shouted for joy, and it was fulfilled . 
what is written: ‘The wilderness shall be glad,’ ete. 

“ Bro. Boas, after having recovered somewhat from his long and tedious 
journey, went to Naperville, where he was not less welcome than at Des 
Plaines. Besides these two societies, he also preached at Dunkley’s Grove, 
a new German settlement, situated between Des Plaines and Naperville; yet 
without any visible effects, 

“The first general meeting of the Evangelical Association in the far 
West, was held by Bro. Boas at Jacob Esher’s, sr., near Wheeling, Cook 
County, Lllinois, in September, 1837. This was a time of gracious refresh- 
ing for the two societies—that of Des Plaines and that of Naperville. Some 
conversions took place, and, as usual, Bro. Jacob Boas held a quarterly 
Conference at this meeting, under a shady oak, on the banks of the Des 
Plaines river. The members attending this Conference were: Jacob Boas, 
preacher ; Jacob Esher, sen., and Martin Esher, class-leaders ; and Joseph 
Wirth, assistant. Bro. Boas now ratified the election of the class-leaders, 
that had taken place before his arrival. 

“The efforts of Bro. Boas, during his six months’ stay there, were 
crowned with success; but as the charge of the Miami circuit, situated 
partly in Ohio, partly in Indiana, had been entrusted to him, he felt it his 
duty to leave them again, about Christmas, with the promise to do all in 
his power to induce the next conference to send them a minister next Spring, 





*) Bro. Boas had been traveling the year before on Erie circuit, in Pennsylvania, 
to which Warren belonged; and had made a conditional promise to these people, that 
should they move to Illinois, he would visit them there. But little did they expect 
that he would fulfill his promise so soon. 


1837.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 261 


for regular preaching’; for he had satisfied himself at the first view, that 
this would be a very important field for the Evangelical Association. His 
efforts at conference were crowned with success ; the State of Illinois was 
received as a circuit, and one year later the circuit was called Illinois 
circuit.” 

In March, 1838, conference had allotted it to Bro. Peter Wiest ; but as 
one of the other brethren of Ohio Conference was unable to travel on his 
circuit, Bro. Wiest had to supply his place in Ohio, and so he was prevented 
from going to his new field of labor. Thus it came, that the infant societies 
in Illinois were almost a whole year, viz., from the close of December, 1837, 
to the beginning of September, 1838, without a preacher. This time was 
almost insufferably long to them, so much so that some of the members 
often spoke of returning to Pennsylvania, where they would have, at least, 
their preachers. So great was their desire, that when finally the glad 
tidings spread: “The preacher has come!” a certain man leaped, praising 
God with a loud voice ; and this was not an isolated case, but the general 
feeling among them. 

While the societies were without a preacher, the class-leaders had 
conducted the religious exercises, and managed all other affairs according 
to the best of their abilities ; and the work of the Lord had prospered 
among them, and some conversions taken place. ‘They were, however, not 
without persecution from the world ; but making it a point to be conscien- 
tiously honest in all their business transactions, they were, nevertheless, 
highly respected wherever they were known. This prepared the way for 
the Gospel, and exerted a very salutary influence. 

Bro. Boas, in a report published in the “ Botschafter” dated Cook 
Co., Ill., Dec. 2nd, 1837, states the following with ,regard to his visit to 
Illinois, and the prospects for our Association there :— 

“Tn obedience to the order of our presiding elder, which was, at the 
same time, in accordance with my own feelings, I traveled last Summer to 
the State of Illinois. I left my circuit in the beginning of July, and arrived 
safely at Chicago, the capital of Illinois on the 23rd. I soon ascertained 
where the brethren lived, and found them with but little difficulty. When 
they saw me, they greatly rejoiced and we praised God together for 
his merciful dealings with us. I immediately gave out appointments, 
and commenced preaching ; and the Lord poured his blessings abundantly 
upon us, so that we could truthfully say: ‘ The Lord has done great things 
for us, whereof we are glad.’ 

“ There are a great many Germans in this State, but they are somewhat 
scattered over the country; yet very fine societies and circuits might be 
formed. There are as yet but few, and in most places no German preachers 
at all, although the people are so anxious to hear the Gospel preached unto 
them. The Germans in this State are, for the most part, Europeans, and 
are like sheep without a shepherd. Since my arrival, I have preached very 


262 HISTORY, OF \ LIE: [1837, 


often, and my labors have not been without effect, as some have obtained 
pardon of their sins by faith in the blood of Christ ; others have been 
powerfully affected, and some persecutors of the children of God and oppo- 
nents of the truth have been aroused from their lethargy, so that they now 
acknowledge the work of God and withhold not their assent from it. But 
as my horse was sick most of the time I was there, I could not travel very 
far around, and consequently not make the circuit as large as I desired. 
There are now about seventy of our members there, and still more are con- 
stantly arriving. There are prospects, too, that many of the inhabitants of 
this region will embrace religion.” 

From the preceding statement it appears, that the work in I]linois took 
its origin, as it had done in the State of Ohio, by emigration from 
Pennsylvania ; and this emigration was one of the principal causes of the 
rapid increase of the western Church. Some classes and societies mostly 
consist of members emigrated from Pennsylvania. 

The number of members at the close of the conference year was 7,309 
and the increase 844. 


§ 187. Beginning and Progress of the Work in Buffalo, N. Y. 


Our Church in Buffalo, N. Y., had a very interesting beginning, which 
however, commenced already one year previous. 

In the year 1836, when- Joseph Harlacher served Buffalo circuit, which 
then belonged to the Hastern Conference, he frequently passed through the 
city of Buffalo, in order to reach his appointment. He soon ascertained 
that there lived in Buffalo about 4000 Germans who were like sheep with- 
out a shepherd. Finally he heard of a German pastor whose name was 
Gumbel, who served a small German mission under the auspices of the 
Presbyterians. He visited this Mr. Gumbel, who received him very kindly 
and requested him to preach for him, which he did. Mr. Gumbel professed 
to have experienced the grace of God, but seemed altogether too inexper- 
ienced to conduct a revival, and was generally impracticable in his pastoral 
work, He persuaded Harlacher to preach again in his church, and as he 
intended to emigrate to the West with a few families, he requested him to 
take charge of his congregation. Bro. Harlacher reported this request to 
the next session of the Conference, held at Rebersburg, Pa. (March 28th, 
1836.) which then constituted Buffalo a field of labor, and stationed Bro. 
Harlacher there. He afterward wrote of this, as follows :— 

“ Perhaps the reader may be able to imagine my feelings when the 
stationing committee reported that I was appointed to Buffalo, where we 
had no parsonage, no church, not a single member, and not a dollar of 
missionary money at my disposal; for then we had no missionary society 
as yet.” Moreover, Bro. Harlacher had shortly before Conference been 
married to Sister Hetty Hoppel, of Sparta, N. Y., and in view of this fact 
he makes the following remark: “I have often wondered, how many of 


1837. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCTA TION. 263 


our newly married young preachers in our days would be willing to enter 
upon such a mission without a missionary appropriation ?” 

When Bro. Harlacher returned to Buffalo, he found Mr. Gumbel’s 
pulpit vacant and his congregation without a preacher. He then stepped 
into the pulpit and preached his first sermon as missionary, on the 24th of 
April, 1836, on the text, Luke 10, 5.6. He was now regarded as the 
regular pastor of this small congregation, to whom he preached on Sundays 
and held prayer-meetings during the week. He received from these people 
$86.73 as salary, which was increased to $100 by a small dividend made by 
the Conference, Out of this little resource he was to pay house-rent, pro- 
visions, etc., at high prices, and as he just began house-keeping he had also 
to buy furniture—for which the good wife had to yield up her former 
savings. Bro. Harlacher also opened a German school, which slightly 
increased the stipend. 

To obtain fire-wood, he took the axe and attacked the stumps near the 
church. And, lo! before the Conference year was up there came a little 
guest into the family who was so welcome that he was permitted to stay, 
although there remained only two cents in the treasury and scarcely any 
provisions in the larder. On that day the presiding elder, Charles Hammer, 
came, and as he opened his saddle-bags, there appeared a little bundle, 
which he laid upon the table saying: “ Here is a roll of butter for you, sent 
by Sister Moses Boyer!” That sister lived in Canada, but her daughters 
had been in Buffalo and had heard Harlacher preach. 

During the year a few persons were converted to God, but there was 
no class formed, for things were not yet ripe for such a step. When Bro. 
Harlacher was about starting for Conference a young lady called upon him 
and related with tears of joy that she had been led to God through Har- 
lacher’s labors, and handed him some money toward his traveling expenses. 
This encouragement and contribution came very opportune. 

Conference again sent Bro. Harlacher to Buffalo in 1837. He now 
commenced to hold prayer-meetings in private dwellings, where more people 
attended than in the church. Some persons were awakened and became 
seekers of salvation. He now encouraged those attending to pray publicly. 
Frederick Hess and his wife, a Roman Catholic young couple, came into the 
prayer-meeting, cried to God for mercy and were among the first who 
became members of the Evangelical Association in Buffalo. Sevéral persons 
were converted at a camp-meeting held at Clarence a few miles from the 
city ; when these returned they could not refrain from praising God aloud 
for his saving mercy. But this caused a great commotion and uproar 
among the older members of Gumbel’s congregation, and they began to 
oppose this work. The elders and trustees came to Harlacher and requested 
him to put a stop to this movement, for they regarded it as being disorderly, 
He replied, however, that he had no right to accede to their request unless 
they would show him from the word of God that such prayer and praise 


264 } HISTORY OF THE | [1837. 


were not in accordance with the Scriptures. Thereupon they served 
written notice upon him, that he was forbidden to preach further in that 
church, to which he answered, also in writing: “My charge is to preach 
the Gospel in the city of Buffalo. My calling is from God, and not from 
men, and I will not cease until my time here hasexpired. IfI cannot havea 
suitable place I will preach on the street.” Still he found the church open 
next Sunday and preached without disturbance, but the opposition soon 
broke out publicly. On the following Sunday he found an opponent 
standing behind the altar, who then sang and prayed and read a sermon, 
and at the close made the announcement, “ that preacher Harlacher was 
not allowed further to preach in this church, because of the disorder which 
he had brought into it.” Some one in the congregation now arose and 
said: “I want to know what evil this man has done that he is not to be 
allowed to preach here ?” whereupon confusion arose among those present 
until Harlacher arose and said, in case they would not let him preach there 
willingly he would hold worship in his house on that afternoon, and 
invited the people to attend there, and added a few further remarks, but 
was interrupted with hard words by his opponent, and then left the 
church, never to enter it again. This opponent afterward came to a fear- 
ful end. 

Among those present on that memorable occasion was Martin Lauer, 
then a lad of 15 years. 

A number of seekers of salvation then came to Harlacher’s house 
(Dec. 10, 1837), to whom he preached on Isaiah 35,10. John Duerr, one 
of the trustees, had not consented to the movement of the insurgents, for 
he had already experienced the grace of God; he stood faithfully by Bro. 
Harlacher, not fearing the persecution which now arose. In after years he 
removed to Wisconsin, where he remained a faithful member until his death. 
About this time Bro. Harlacher wrote in his diary: “For a few weeks I 
have realized the help of God and the witness of the Spirit so clearly that 
I have been overwhelmed by the love of God, and my heart was filled with 
joy in the Holy Ghost.” 

Soon after a house was rented on Spruce street, close by where the 
first Evangelical Church now stands, and on the following Sunday preach- 
‘ng service was had there. 

The Spirit of the Lord wrought with great power in the meeting. On 
the 20th of Dec. Bro. Chas. Hammer came and stayed over Christmas. On 
the following Sunday Bro. Jacob Riegel was there. These brethren 
preached with great power. The house was crowded with eager listeners, 
and many became powerfully convicted. On Christmas Bro. Hammer 
preached with great effect and the Sacrament was administered. Some 
praised God aloud, others cried for mercy, and nearly all shed tears. 

On New Year’s night a watch-meeting was held, which was something 
quite new to these people. At midnight all fell upon their knees and spent 


1838.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIA TION, 265 


some time in solemn stillness before God, until divine power began to work 
mightily among the people. In this house there was more liberty than in 
the church, and a number of people were added to the Lord. On the 14th 
day of January, 1838, new members were received for the first time, when 
thirty-seven persons joined the Church, who were then formed into a class, 
This was properly the founding of the first Evangelical congregation in 
Buffalo. 

At the close of his two years of service, in the Spring of 1838, Bro. 
Harlacher wrote as follows: “Upon Haster we again had a ‘big’ meeting. 
During eight days previous I had preached daily. The weeping and pray- 
ing of penitents became quite general, especially so when we celebrated the 
Lord’s Supper on Easter Sunday. On Monday I preached my farewell 
sermon and immediately departed from this congregation. There was such 
deep feeling and commotion among the people as I had never seen before. 
Some shed tears of repentance, others of sorrow, and still others of 
joy. We now had a membership of more than fifty, nearly all converted 
persons,” 

During the two years following, this church was served in connection 
with the great Buffalo circuit, and had to pass through many trials, After- 
ward a station was formed and served by Frederick Kroecker for two years, 
under whose labors the work was greatly blessed. At the expiration of 
Kroecker’s term (1842) the membership numbered 91, divided into five 
classes. 

Bro, Martin Lauer writes with reference to these primitive times, that 
persecution by the unconverted was very vehement, but the earnestness, 
determination and joy in the service of God among the members was 
greater still. A little church was built. “When the time for worship 
arrived the members were usually all present. It was well understood that 
all class-members attend prayer-meetings ; if the weather was unfavorable, 
the road muddy, and the night rainy and dark, they took lanterns and went 
with light in their hearts, in good time to the meeting. The prayer-meet- 
ings were usually victorious, and conversions were not limited to protracted 
meetings. For a long time there were penitents in nearly every prayer- 
meeting and most of the conversions took, place in them. The members 
were plain in their dress, especially the sisters, and more particularly the 
unmarried ones !” 


§ 188, Decease of Several Preachers. 


During this Conference year the Association lost three very useful 
local preachers by death, viz.: John Thomas of Wayne County, Ohio, J. 
Philip Breidenstein of Lebanon County, Pa., and Andrew Yeakel of Lehigh 
County, Pa. 

John Thomas had for many years been a preacher of the Association, 
Mr. Albright himself having signed his first license to preach the Gospel. 


266 AIS TORY COR, TAL. [1838. 


His death was caused by a terrible accident. He was caught by a threshing 
machine while in motion, lost his arm, and mortification taking place, he 
died a few days after, in full assurance of eternal life, aged fifty-four 
years. 

J. Philip Breidenstein had been for thirty years a member of the 
Evangelical Association, and had served for 25 years as a local preacher, 
He was a pious, devoted man, and a true follower of Christ. Though in 
his latter years he seldom preached, yet his life and conduct among his 
fellowmen was a constant sermon, exerting a very salutary influence on 
many of them. He had taken an active part in promoting the interests of 
the connection and was always a strong pillar in the Association. During 
his sickness he awaited his departure with composure—which occurred on 
January 22nd, 1838. 

Andrew Yeakel had been a preacher among the Schwenkfelders in his 
earlier years in and about Upper Milford, Lehigh County, Pa., and had 
been universally esteemed for his uprightness,and honesty. But seeing the 
moral deterioration of his Church, he bore testimony against it. He, with 
some of his fellow believers, united with the Evangelical Association. He 
met with much opposition from some of his former brethren; however, he 
did not yield to discouragement, but was zealous in promoting the Kingdom 
of God and the welfare of his fellow-men, He was a very conscientious, 
devout, and pious man, and was altogether a character of rare excellence. 
He was both in conduct and doctrine a worthy example for the faithful ; 
diligent and scrupulous in his official and domestic duties, as well as in his 
temporal occupation. He suffered for a long time with consumption, but 
was fully resigned to the will of God. He died in great peace and in the 
full hope of eternal life, on April 6th, 1837, in the fifty-first year of 
his age. 

Although Andrew Yeakel was not classically educated, he was a deep, 
sound theologian. His sermons were well digested and carefully arranged ; 
and his expositions of Scripture were excellent. He was very skillful in 
the use of similitudes for the illustration of spiritual truths, As for instance, 
when he wanted to illustrate how God, who searches the heart, shows to his 
people the impurities or spots still lurking in their nature, by trials and 
temptations, he took a glass filled with water, at the bottom of which was a 
little sediment of dust or earth. As long as the glass was left alone, the 
water in it would appear very clear and pure, but when taken up and shaken, 
the impure sediment would rise and give some turpidity to the water. 
Thus it becomes evident that some impurity had been there. Even so trials 
and crosses will bring to light what remains of moral depravity still exist, 
and show why entire sanctification is necessary; or he would say: A 
room has been swept and garnished, so that, in comparison with its former 
condition, it may be regarded as clean, yet if more light is let into it, and 
some one will use the broom freely, then innumerable particles of dust will 


1838. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 267 


be seen flying in the sunbeams pouring into the room. Thus the regener- 
ated person may justly be regarded as having been “sanctified in Christ 
Jesus,” but when the clearly shining and deeply searching word of God is 
applied to his heart and life, and the Lord with the besom of trials sweeps 
through his soul, there will appear in the revealing light of God, many parti- 
cles of dust and the necessity of entire sanctification will become very clear 
and urgent in the consciousness of the believer. 

Thorough repentance and sound conversions he regarded as main 
points. His sermons were full of unction, and left deep impressions. He 
rejoiced greatly in the prosperity of the work of God in the Evangelical 
Association. On his death-bed he gave a considerable contribution to the 
proposed Publishing House of the Evangelical Association.* 


§ 189. Introduction of the Missionary Cause. 


Both Conferences held their sessions again in March; the Western 
began its sessions on the 5th, in Jackson Township, Wayne County, Ohio, 
the Eastern on the 28th, at Orwigsburg, Pa. Seven of the itinerants located, 
and six were admitted on trial, viz: Wm. Mentz, John Rosenberger, Fr. 
Kroecker, A. Longsdorf, 8. Krall and Joseph Hummel. 3 

Canaan district, of the Kastern Conference, was divided, and the Kast- 
ern part of it called Philadelphia district. A new circuit was also formed 
in the Eastern Conference, viz : Womelsdorf circuit; and two in the Western 
Conference, viz.: Franklin and Illinois circuits. _ 

This year was not only highly blessed, but it forms another epoch in 
the history of our Church, especially by the awakening of a missionary 
spirit and the founding of the first missionary societies in our midst. Both 
the Missionary Society in the Eastern Conference and the Parent Board of 
Missions of the Association were founded this year, besides a number 
of societies auxiliary to the Missionary Society in the Eastern Con- 
ference, 

It is true, the Association had cultivated a missionary spirit from its 
very beginning, and often sent out ministers, in order to visit spiritually 
neglected communities, to preach unto them the Gospel of peace, and to intro- 
duce the use of the means of grace among them. Objects of its solicitous 
care were also those societies, who indeed had pastors, but such as lived 
with their members in carnal security, sins and errors, and were entire 
strangers to experimental religion. In this way the Association was doing 
much already for the salvation of many souls. But this was done only 
occasionally ; when, for instance, there was an abundance of preachers ; when 
a section of country was situated very conveniently near a circuit; or when 


*) The author saw this ‘‘ Uncle” when near his death and heard him express his 
living hope of eternal life. Among other impressive remarks, he said that: “ Hin 
gutes Gewissen, ist ein sanftes Sterbekissen'’—7. e. ‘‘A good conscience is a soft dying 
pillow.” His conscience rested in the blood of Christ. 


18 


268 FAISTORY OF (JHE [1838. 


members had removed to distant parts of the country, soliciting a visit 
from their ministers. But systematic arrangements for collecting mission- 
ary contributions, and sending out missionaries every year, had not yet 
been introduced. And, indeed, the necessary acquaintance with the cause 
of missions had heretofore been wanting with the greater part of our min- 
isters and members ; the condition of Pagan and non-Christian nations 
especially was partially known to but few; and even the true religious 
wants of the greater part of Christendom were not properly understood and 
laid to heart. 

Nor had our Periodical as yet taken up the subject of missions, and 
missionary sermons were something altogether unknown in the Society. 
The principal cause of the introduction of the cause of missions into our 
Association just at this time, was the “ Basler Missions Magazin,” (a mis- 
sionary magazine published in Hurope). Bro, John Seybert had purchased 
a considerable number of volumes of said work, from a certain person in 
Blooming Grove, Lycoming County, Pa., and presented them to the Pub- 
lishing House for the use of the editor. The perusal of this work aroused 
a missionary spirit in the editor, and filled his heart with zeal for this 
sacred cause. The first volumes of said work especially, affected the 
editor powerfully ; and as his heart became full of this good cause, the 
subject often formed the topic of conversation in circles cf friends, and the 
wish was ventured, that something might be done in this cause also by our 
Association. The influence of said magazine, and the many glorious reports 
of awakenings and conversions on the different fields of labor of our breth- 
ren, which were published at this time in the Periodical, induced the editor 
to pen an article, which appeared in the last number of the second Vol. of 
the paper, headed: “Men ought to extol and magnify the work of God.” 
This article alludes to, and encourages, such an enterprise, without, however, 
expressly naming the cause of missions. } 

Just at the time when the Eastern Conference was in session, which 
founded the first missionary society of the Association, there appeared 
another editorial article on this subject, headed: “ The Christians and the 
Heathen,” which in the beginning gives a brief statement of the moral 
condition of the whole human family, and then inculcates the duty of the 
Christians to preach the Gospel to every creature. 

This appeal and the many encouraging reports of revivals and the ex- 
tension of the Kingdom of God, that appeared from time to time in the 
Periodical—the many inquiries and demands for preachers of the Evangel- 
ical Association, in different places—especially also the many openings for 
ministers of our Church, in the principal maritime cities and larger inland 
towns, and other places, though they had not directly appealed to us, to 
proclaim to them the Gospel—all these causes combined, led to the founding 
of missionary societies and the systematic support of the cause of missions 
in the Association. 


1838.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 269 


$190. Formation of the First Missionary Society. 


At the session of the Eastern Conference, March 28th to April 4th, 
1838, the first Missionary Society of the Evangelical Association was organ- 
ized upon motion of William W. Orwig—who at this time was the recognized 
leader of the enterprises in the Church—the Conference organized itself as 
a Missionary Society for the purpose of making arrangements and providing 
means for the promotion and spread of the Gospel of Christ. A committee 
was appointed to draft a constitution for this purpose. This committee 
reported the following constitution, which was then adopted. 


We insert this constitution entire as a very interesting document, 
showing what views those brethren entertained in this matter. 


CONSTITUTION. 


Article 1. This Society shall be called: The German Evangelical 
Missionary Society of North America, 

Art. 2. The object of this society shall be to make arrangements 
and provide means, to extend and promote the kingdom of God, by mis- 
sionaries. 

Art. 3. Every member shall annually contribute an optional sum, for 
the support of the society. 

Art, 4. For the transactions of the business of this society, a president 
and a vice-president, a secretary and an assistant secretary, and a treasurer, 
shall be annually elected. 

Art. 5. In addition to these officers, four members of the society shall 
be selected, who, with the officers, shall constitute a committee, to tran- 
sact the necessary business during the interval of the annual meetings, 
The majority of this committee shall form a quorum, to transact busi- 
ness, 

Art. 6. All superintending preachers of the Evangelical Association, 
shall be authorized agents to establish auxiliary societies, and to receive 
moneys in order to hand them over to the treasurer. 

Art. 7. All demands on the treasurer must be accompanied with an 
order signed by the president and secretary. 

Art. 8. The members of this society are to meet annually in the place 
where the Annual Conference session takes place, in the evening before the 
opening of Conference. 

Art. 9. This society shall be authorized, by a majority of votes, to 
alter or to amend this constitution from time to time. 

The following brethren were then elected as officers by a majority of 
votes of the Society. 

Witii1am W. Orwica, President. 
JouNn P. Leis, Vice-President. 
JAcOB VoGELBACcH, Secretary. 


CuarLes Hammer, Assistant Secretary. 
THomas Buck, Treasurer. 


270 ATS TORY SOLS (LUTE. [1838. 


Select Committee members, PHitip Waaner, Francis Horrman, 
JAcoB SCHNERR and JosEPH M. SAYLor. 

It was then resolved that a voluntary collection be taken up, which 
amounted to $26.50. 

The organization of this Society and its object and constitution were 
published in the Church paper, with additional remarks with reference to 
the cause of missions whereby a missionary spirit was awakened in many 
places in the Church. Many smaller societies, auxiliary to the Conference 
Missionary Society, were established, and contributions from other sources 
were received. Thus five hundred dollars were raised the very first year, 
although no missionaries had as yet been sent out by the Society. The 
missionary spirit having been aroused, promising fields for missions were 
looked for, and at the next session of the Hastern Conference, it was resolved © 
to establish four missions which was forthwith carried out, From Canada, 
which several of our ministers had already visited, came a strong and very 
touching appeal for ministers of our Church. This appeal was sent for 
publication in our Church paper, by a highly respected and influential man, 
H. W. Peterson, and, accompanied by a few introductory remarks by the 
editor, it was published in the issue of September, 1838. 

Thus the missionary work assumed a definite shape in the Evangelical 
Association in A, D. 1838, has since proved itself a great blessing to 
thousands of souls, and has contributed very much toward the more rapid 
increase and extension of the Association. 

Since the Eastern Conference had thus made a beginning, it was ex- 
pected that other Conferences would follow this example in the future and 
some of the leading men in the Church saw the utility and necessity of 
forming a Principal Missionary Society, in order to secure a general 
co-operation in this good cause, instead of dividing the strength of the Church 
by independent Conference mission-work. 


§ 191. Formation of the Missionary Society of the Evangelical Association. 


The subject of forming such a Society was frequently discussed, and 
the conviction became clearer and stronger that it should be done. Finally 
on Christmas, 1838, during a protracted meeting at New Berlin, Pa. a 
convention was held in the house of Rev. William W. Orwig, which con- 
sisted of a number of preachers and members. At this meeting the matter 
was fully considered, and finally a resolution passed to make a beginning, 
and the following committee appointed to draft a constitution: John Seybert, 
George Brickley and William W. Orwig. 

On the first day of March, 1839, a second meeting was held at the 
house of John 8. Dunkel, in Buffalo Township, Union County, Pa., where 
the constitution drafted by said committee was presented and unanimously 
adopted. And as this document is of historical value, we insert it here as 
follows :— 


1838. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 271 


Article 1. This society, called ‘‘ The Missionary Society of the Evangelical 
Assoctation of North America,’ has for its object to enable the Annual 
Conferences of the Evangelical Association, in a more effectual manner, 
to extend their missionary operations in the United States and in other 
places. 

Art, 2, Hach subscriber, paying annually $2.00 shall be a member 
of this society ; and who at any time pays $25.00, shall be a member 
for life. 

Art. 3. The officers of this society shall be: a president, three vice- 
presidents, a secretary, a corresponding and recording secretary, and a 
treasurer, who, with fourteen managers, shall form a board to transact the 
business of the society. All of these must be members of the Evangelical 
Association, and shall be annually elected by the society. 

Art, 4, The Board shall have power to make by-laws for the regulation 
of its own business, and to fill vacancies that may occur during the year ; 
it shall also lay before the society, at its annual meeting a report of its 
proceedings and funds, and likewise before the (teneral Conference an exact 
report of all its proceedings and receipts and expenditures, during the past 
four years. 

Art. 5. Ordained ministers of the Association, being members of the 
society, shall be, ex officio, members of the board. 

Art. 6, The annual meeting of the society for the election of officers 
and managers, shall be held on the third Tuesday in April, at New Berlin, 
Union County, Pa. 

Ari. 7. The president, or in his absence, the one of the present vice- 
presidents standing first on the lst, and in the absence of the three vice- 
presidents, any member that may be appointed by those present, shall 
preside over all meetings of the society and the Board. 

Art. 8. Twenty-one members shall form a quorum at all meetings of 
the society, and eleven at those of the Board ; the minutes of each meeting 
shall be signed by the president. 

Art. 9. It is recommended, that within the boundaries of each Annual 
Conference, a conference missionary society be established, as a branch of 
this society, with auxiliary societies on the different circuits, under such 
regulations as the conferences may see proper to lay down. Hach of these 
conference missionary societies shall annually send a copy of its annual 
report to the corresponding secretary of this society, and inform the treas- 
urer of the same body of the amount of the funds collected for the support 
of the missionary cause; this amount shall be placed at the disposal of the 
treasurer of the parent society, under the provisions of the following 
article. 

Art. 10. The treasurer of this society shall, under the direction of the 
Board, annually or oftener, as the Board may deem necessary, inform the 
bishop or bishops of the financial affairs, and of those amounts that may be 


vA he HISTORY OF THE [1838. 


drawn for the purposes specified by this constitution ; and according to 
this information, the bishop or bishops shall be authorized to draw from 
the treasurer any sum within the specified amount, that may be deemed 
necessary by the missionary committees of the Annual Conferences for the 
support of the missionaries under their care; with this proviso, however, 
that no more be allowed to any missionary, than is allowed to the 
other itinerants for their support. And whenever a bishop draws 
money from any treasurer of one of the conference missionary socie- 
ties, he shall at once inform the treasurer of the parent society 
thereof ; each missionary shall also transmit to the corresponding secretary 
a quarterly report in writing, on the state and the prospects of the mission 
under his care. No missionary that has not been appointed by one or the 


other of our Annual Conferences or by our bishops, shall draw support from 


the funds of this society. 

Art. 11. This constitution shall be subject to our next General Con- 
ference; and if the object of the society be approved, the constitution shall, 
in future, not be altered, except by the General Conference on a recommen- 
dation of the Board, 

This constitution having been approved, the convention proceeded and 
formed itself into a society, by the election of officers and managers for the 
present year, as follows :— 

JOHN SEYBERT, President. 

JAMES BARBER, First Vice-President. 

DANIEL BERGER, Second Vice-President. 
GEORGE BrRIcKLEY, Third Vice-President. 

S. G. MiuuEr, Secretary. 

W. W. Orwia, Recording and Corresponding Sec, 
JOHN 8. DuNKEL, Treasurer. 

Managers: Chas. Hammer, Henry Thomas, Philip Schmid , Joha 
Kaufman, Dr. I. Brugger, Martin Dreisbach, Martin D. Reed, John Rohland, 
Philip Wagner, Mich. F. Maize, Isaac Eyer, John Maize, Leonard Gebharn: 
Sebastian Mosser.* 

This was the origin of the missionary society in the Evangelical Asso- 
ciation. Soon after it had been established, General Conference met in 
Center Co., Pa., and in conformity with the last article of the constitution, 
this document was laid before that body, which approved and confirmed 
the same as well as the establishment of the society. Thus this soeiety 
became the principal missionary society of the Evangelical Association ; 
and the missionary society of the Eastern Conference, which had been estab- 
lished a year before, altered its constitution at its next annual meeting, and, 
together with its auxiliary societies, united with this as a branch, which 


*) These managers were nearly all lay-members. Rev. W. W. Orwig says that this 


appointment of lay-members was intended to awaken a greater interest among the 
members in the missionary work, without any purpose as to lay-delegation. 


1838. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 273 


example was afterward followed by the other Annual Conferences. Sub- 
sequently there were important alterations made in the constitution, as 
may be seen by comparing the above with the present constitution of the 
society. 

On Monday, January 17th, 1839, the Board of the society held its first 
meeting at New Berlin, Pa., in order to adopt by-laws to the constitution, 
and rules to regulate its business transactions. It was also resolved, that 
notice shall be given of the founding of the society in the Botschafter, and 
that its constitution, together with the circular, and an address of the Board. 
drawn up by a committee, shall be published in said paper. 


These appeals and other communications which appeared in the Church 
paper as well as copious extracts from reports of the principal missionary 
societies of Hurope and America, and in the following year the reports from 
our own first missionaries, exerted a powerful influence upon the entire 
Association and intensified the missionary zeal still more. The preachers 
generally took a deep interest in the matter, delivering missionary sermons, 
forming auxiliary societies, and laboring diligently to interest a still larger 
circle of friends in this cause, many of the members contributed liberally 
toward its support. Yet, like other good enterprises, this cause also 
encountered some opposition in the Church. It was anew thing among us, 
and there were people in our midst who considered it safer to cling to the 
“old ways”, and who for that reason opposed all new measures about to be 
introduced, especially such as came into contact with their purses. Others 
said they could not see the necessity for such a laborious and expensive 
effort to send forth missionaries, etc. Yet the cheering results of our 
missionary operations in the very first years, silenced all objections and 
excuses in a short time.* 


§ 192. Against the Misuse of Tobacco. 


The Kastern Conference at the session above indicated (1838) passed 
the following resolution :— 


“Resolved, That the general use of tobacco, as it is customary in our 
days, is a great evil, and that we unanimously protest against it.” 


However improper and extravagant this resolution may have appearec. 
to some in those days, yet similar resolutions have since been passed by 
other ecclesiastical bodies. Our paper raised at that time, and still more 
after the passage of the above resolution, its voice in earnest against the 
evil, and not without success. Many were convinced by the sound argu- 
ments against the prevailing use of tobacco, and renounced it, some of 
wham have remained faithful to their reaolutions, while others, alas! 





*) It is but just to say that beside John Seybert, the Rev. William W, Orwig was 
the chief mover in these beginnings of the Missionary Society, and he was also in 
fact the compiler of its constitutions. 


274 HISTORY (OF THE (1838. 


relapsed into the evil practice. In subsequent times, some of the other 
conferences passed similar resolutions, 

But many members of the Evangelical Association, as well as of other 
Christian denominations, still indulge in this bad practice ; and while many 
papers, that are devoted only to the secular improvement of mankind, are 
almost constantly protesting against it, the religious press is almost entirely 
silent on this subject. One of the principal reasons, why this evil has thus 
far not been more effectually combated in the Society, is, because some of 
our preachers are still addicted to it. And, as in many other things, so 
also in this, many appeal to the old brethren, the fathers of the Association ; 
not considering, that in their times that amount of light was not thrown on 
this subject, nor on the cause of temperance, which we enjoy in our days; 
and that our ancestors are, consequently, more excusable in these things 
than we. Moreover, some of the best men of the Society have always been 
oppposed to this evil, in word and deed; and of these none has, at any 
time, whether formerly or lately, combated these two evils with more per- 
severance and resolution, than Bro. John Seybert, especially the evil of 
intemperance, or the use of intoxicating liquors as a beverage. Privately 
and publicly, in sermons and lectures, he has opposed this monster evil. 
Another inexorable opponent of the use of tobacco within our Church was 
Henry Niebel. How he in his sermons sometimes dealt with those that 
were addicted to the misuse of tobacco—and he generally did it with good 
effect ! Hence he was greatly feared by them ; and it was but seldom that 
one suffered himself to be caught by him in the act. Some followed his 
example in attacking the evil, but none perhaps could do it so wittily and 
with such good grace, as he generally did it. At general and camp-meet- 
ings he painted the misuse of tobacco in such horrible colors, that many of 
the guilty, during the sermon, threw away their pipes, cigars, and tobacco, 
and at once forsook the evil. These sudden conversions, however, did not 
always prove lasting. 

This Conference also resolved, that none of our preachers shall deal in 
tobacco, similar to the cieeianneee rule of our Church forbidding the traffic 
in intoxicating liquors and in slaves. 


§ 195. Blessed Camp-meetings and Awakenings. 


The work, as might be expected from the awakened missionary spirit 
in the Connection, extended itself during the year in many directions ; and 
in some places, where it had formerly begun and taken a solid foots: 
glorious revivals took place. All things considered, this was one of the 
most blessed years up to that time. The camp-meetings, especially, were, 
on the whole, very productive of good, as well as some of the quarterly and 
protracted meetings. For the confirmation of what has been said, some 
extracts from reports of camp-meetings are subjoined. Bro. Daniel Berger 


1838. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION, 275 


reported through the paper of a camp-meeting, that took place on Center 
circuit, among other things as follows :-—— 

“On Monday, September 3rd, our camp-meeting began, in George’s 
Valley, Center County, Pa., on the land of Bro. J. Falget, and lasted till 
the following Monday. The number of tents was 32, and the beginning of 
the meeting was very good. As early as the second day, conversions took 
place, and the meeting was constantly increasing in interest. At every 
invitation penitents came forward, in order to plead for mercy and the pardon 
of their sins, and God imparted his blessing abundantly. 


“The sermons were remarkably blessed and full of unction. The 
servants of God were in such a degree filled with courage and power, that 
I can say, to the honor and glory of God, that I had never before attended 
a camp-meeting, where the preaching was from first to last, so plain and 
powerful as at this; many of the hearers have said thesame. Others that 
embraced religion during the meeting, afterward confessed that they often 
thought their hearts would burst under the mighty power by which God 
accompanied his word. * * * * * 

“On the last evening the manifestations of God’s power were such, that 
sinners broke down and cried for mercy; and without being invited, mourn- 
ers came forward to the altar, in order to pray and be prayed for. And 
when the time of the evening sermon had arrived, a number of penitent and 
contrite sinners lay round the altar on their knees and faces, crying to God 
for mercy and the pardon of their sins, so that another sermon was consid- 
ered altogether unnecessary. The mourners were then counseled and 
prayed with, till most of them found peace and were translated into the 
glorious liberty of the children of God. Now followed a scene of heavenly 
shouting of the children of God, to which the words of the German poet 
can justly be applied :— 

‘ Hier freut sich ein Jiingling, der Jesum gefunden ; 
Dort singet ein alter Verehrer der Wunden; 
Hier lobt eine Seele mit stillem Vergniigen ; 
Dort jauchzet ein Andrer und méchte wohl fliegen.’ 

“Shortly before parting, all that were desirous to join the Society, were 
invited to become members, on condition that they were resolved to renounce 
all sins, and to lead holy lives, in accordance with the Word of God; 
twenty-seven persons came forward. and had their names reeorded in the 
book of the Church.—The exact number of the converts at this meeting, 
we cannot give; but as far as we could ascertain, it was about fifty. To 
the Lord alone be all the praise!” 

Of another camp-meeting, held on Mansfield circuit, in the State of 
Ohio, Bro. Absalom B. Schaefer reported as follows :— 

“Qur second camp-meeting began on the 20th of August, on the land 
of Bro. Henry Kiplinger, in Wayne County, Ohio. Hight itinerant and ten 
local preachers, eighty families who dwelt in about forty tents, and a con- 


276 HISTORY OF THE - [1838. 


siderable number of friends from a distance without tents, in all about 210 
were present, most of whom were on the spot at the beginning, and had 
come, as [ believe, in the fear of God, in order to do his work with solem- | 
nity. Although the meeting was very large, and increased daily, yet the 
attention and conduct of the people were remarkably good, so much so that 
not the least disturbance took place. It almost appeared as if all were on 
the side of God. The effect was general, from beginning to end; after 
almost every sermon, the mourners were invited, and each time more or 
tess came forward. At the first invitation, about twenty-five persons pre- 
sented themselves at the altar, and at every subsequent one between forty 
and fifty. On the last evening, sixty-eight came forward at the first 
invitation, and afterward many among the crowd fell on their knees, crying 
to God for mercy. It is impossible to give the exact number of new 
converts at this meeting, but it may have been between 60 and 70, most of 
whom united with us forthwith. Others have since declared, that they 
would join us at the first opportunity. We can indeed say, ‘ This was a 
time of the Son of man.” 

Several other camp-meetings of this year were also remarkably blessed 
and efficacious, as may be seen from the reports of them in our Church 
paper. 

Old York circuit, which had been thoroughly tried by a variety of vicis- 
situdes, was refreshed this year, under the pastoral care of John Sensel and 
William Heim, with an almost general revival, especially in Canadochley 
and near Loganville; in point of newly received members, it ranked highest 
in the Kast, Cumberland circuit was still progressing. Centre circuit also 
enjoyed revivals in different parts, principally in Sugar Valley, and in 
several other places. 

Columbia circuit, under the charge of the Brethren Jacob Barber and 
Benjamin Epley, was blessed with an almost general revival, especially in 
the neighborhood of New Columbia, Union County, Pa., at Loyalsack, etc. 
On Lycoming circuit, glorious revivals took place, 

In order to enable the reader to pass a fair judgment on the amount of 
good accomplished in some places by our ministers, we here insert two 
reports, from some parts of the last two mentioned circuits, written 
by brethren residing in said places, for publication in the Church paper 
in 1839; they are as follows :— 


“ REPORT OF THE WORK OF GoD IN LOYALSACK, PA. 

Encouraged by the cheering news of the work of God, through the 
columns of the ‘“‘Christliche Botschafter,’ | take up my pen in order to 
inform you of what the Lord has been pleased to do for us in this wild- 
erness, 

“When we take a retrospective view of the condition we were in, before 
the servants of God came to us, we can truly say, ‘The Lord has done great 
things for us.’ The people here are of different denominations, and ungod- 


1838. | EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 277 


liness had almost reached its climax; cursing, swearing, lying, tippling, 
desecrating the Sabbath, etc., were the order of the day, and true Christianity 
a rare article. We indeed had preachers, but they were such as the prophet 
Micah, 3d chapter, deseribes: They were concerned for the wool, not for 
the sheep. In vices and immorality they took the lead. In short, our 
condition was lamentable, till about six years ago, the Lord had pity on us, 
and sent us his servants. 


“Bro. Seybert was the first who preached here; from that time the 
servants of God have labored very earnestly among us. At first it seemed 
as if all were anxious to fall in with the good work, till about three years 
ago conversions took place, when the devil was aroused, and rushed upon 
the children and servants of God with all his might, the priest being the 
leader. And when the Brethren Berger and Sindlinger formed a class here 
of ten members, Satan commenced anew, through his servants, to calumniate, 
scold, and rail against us, as i” we were reprobates; the cause of this was 
what Peter writes, 1. Epistle, 4, 4. 


“From that time we have held prayer-meetings, and endeavored to work 
out our souls’ salvation. The work of conversion stood still for some time, 
but the slander and persecution of the children of God went on without 
interruption ; but blessed be God, who knoweth how to deliver those that 
are his. Last Summer, under the superintendence of the Brethren Barber 
and Epley, the work began again to extend itself rapidly. We also held 
two general meetings, at which Bro. Seybert assisted us. Several of the 
strongholds of Babylon gave way, and a considerable number of precious 
souls were converted to God, so that we now have a society here of 23 
members, who are determined to work out together their souls’ salvation. 
Many others are in the net of the Gospel, the light shines with increased 
brightness, and ungodliness of every kind, especially drunkenness, has con- 
siderably decreased. A tavern-keeper said, that where he used to sell five 
barrels of liquor, he now scarcely sold one. Thus our country has been 
greatly improved, since the pure doctrine of the Gospel is preached here. 
We can say of a truth, with the poet :— 

‘Ob Teufel und Holle gewiith’'t und gekracht, 

So wurden doch Seelen zu Jesu gebracht ; 

Ob Beelzebub Pfeilen mit Macht auf uns schoss, 
So fielen doch Stiulen von Babylon los.’ 

May the Lord grant us grace to remain faithful to him till death! 
Amen. 3 J. G. Bertscn. 

Loyalsack, February 16, 1839. 

Dunstown, Feb. 18th, 1839. 

Grant me the privilege to inform you, through the columns of the 
Botschafter, of what the King of kings has done for us in our new settle- 
ment. It was five years last September, since I came from Germany to this 


278 HISTORY OF THE [1838, 


settlement. There were then but few converted persons to be found in this 
neighborhood ; but the Lord, in his infinite mercy, has been pleased to 
rouse some of us out of our lethargy, and to lead us to true repentance, 
We have now heaven already here on earth ; our class consists of thirty- 
seven members, twelve of whom have been converted this year. We fre- 
quently have glorious times together; the wilderness and the solitary place 
have been made glad. Fathers and mothers, some of whom are already 
ripening for the grave, who but four or five years ago came from Germany, 
have been accepted in the eleventh hour. Yes, dear brethren and sisters, 
we have reason to thank God for having sent his faithful servants into our 
neighborhood, who have thus far visited us so regularly. I have no doubt, 
many of this region will yet thank them in eternity, for their toil 
and care. We thank God also, that the Christliche Botschafter has found | 
its way to our part of the country ; for it has already effected a vast amount 
of good, as many a house has been opened to it already, where it can 
teach and preach; and I hope, that many more houses will follow the 
example. 

My dear brethren and sisters in the Lord, pray for us that our merciful 
Father may grant us grace to persevere steadfastly to the end. The Lord’s 
work prospers in our region ; our meetings are blessed, the Master himself 
is often in our midst, so that old and young rejoice together in praising 
the Lord. May our Heavenly Father be our guide during life, and event- 
ually bring us, with all blood-washed souls, to his everlasting kingdom, is 
my prayer for Christ’s sake. Amen. 

J remain your brother in Christ, 
JOHN Brosst. 

These are two out of the many instances of the great success that 
attended the labors of our itinerants. Wherever they found admittance, 
oreat moral changes for the better were effected by their simple preaching 
of the unadulterated truth, owned and blessed of Almighty God. But, 
notwithstanding these glorious results of their labors, they were foully de- 
cried almost in every place where they began to labor, by cold clergymen 
and hardened and ignorant nominal Christians, as false prophets and deceiv- 
ers, that ought to be guarded against. 

Had not the opposition on the part of the clergy been so powerful, the 
fruit of their labors would have been still more abundant. In some parts 
ofthe country, the people had been filled with such strong prejudices against 
our preachers, by their pastors, that for a long time they had but few hear- 
ers ; and only when the effects of their labors became visible by the thorough 
conversions and evident reformation of individuals, who had been great 
sinners, people commenced to attend in greater numbers, and to hear and 
judge for themselves. But as soon as this was done, glorious changes for 
the better generally took place, and some of the most respectable and 
influential Church-members of those cold teachers were generally among 


1838. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 279 


the first converts and friends of the itinerants. By and by the influence 
of our itinerants became so strong 1n some places, that all railing and slan- 
dering of their enemies could harm them no more. It was then that the 
other preachers commenced to imitate their method and manner of 
proceeding to some extent, in order to prevent the people from leaving 
their churches. 


§ 194. Further Extension of the Work. 


In the Eastern part of the State of Pennsylvania, the work continued 
to spread, especially in the Counties of Lehigh, Northampton, and 
Bucks. In Allentown things went on very well, and a church-edifice 
was built there and dedicated during this year; and another was built in 
Upper Milford. In Philadelphia the work progressed finely, and continued 
to become more firmly established. The society at New Berlin, having had 
to complain for a long time of spiritual barrenness, was visited this year 
with a gracious visitation, to the awakening and conversion of a considera- 
ble number of precious souls, who were added unto the Lord. The old 
members also were quickened anew, and filled with more courage to 
prosecute their journey to heaven. 

In the Western Conference, especially on the circuits of Mansfield and 
Sandusky, some conversions took place during this year. At Liverpool, 
Medina County, Ohio, where in 1834 the first class had been formed by Bro. 
Henry Bucks, consisting of ten members, which, however, had afterward 
been almost dissolved again, it pleased God this year to bless the labors of 
Bro. Absalom A. Schaefer, who was stationed on the circuit, so abundantly 
that the work was powerfully revived, and many souls were converted and 
added to the Church. The year following, when the brethren Aaron Yam- 
bert and John Hall were stationed there, the society was visited with another 
out-pouring of divine grace, during a general meeting in September, at 
which nearly thirty souls were converted. Though this society has since 
that time been subject to a variety of trials and siftings, yet the Lord has 
still his faithful witnesses there, who serve him in spirit and in truth, 
and their conduct proves their conversion to have been a genuine work of 
God. This society has also furnished a number of candidates for the 
ministry, whose labors have been owned and blessed of the Lord. 

From a report of Sandusky circuit, where Bro. Peter Getz was stationed 
this year, it appears that even as late as that time, the preachers of the 
Evangelical Association, especially in the West, had to labor harder in 
many places and to submit to greater inconveniences, than in our days, 
The report in question is as follows :— 

“Our camp and general meetings during this year have, on the whole, 
been greatly blessed, and the grace of God has accompanied our labors to 
such an extent, that a considerable number of persons have been converted, 
who are now working out their souls’ salvation. Yet, I am of opinion that 


280 HISTORY OF THE [1838. 


more good might have been accomplished, if the circuit were not so large. 
Some time ago, a communication appeared in the Botschafter from Bre. 
Zinser, having reference to the difficulties and inconveniences of such ex- 
tensive circuits, which I read with great delight ; for I can say from my 
own experience, that the remarks of the brother are true. The circuit on 
which I have been traveling this year, contains 300 miles in circumference, 
with 35 appointments. Thus the journeys are necessarily long, and also 
very difficult, owing to the country being new and the roads bad, so that 
the horse has sometimes to wade up to his knees in water and morass. The 
distance from one appointment to another being often from 20 to 30 miles, 
and the roads bad, the preacher is obliged to travel the whole day, and 
often does not arrive until the congregation has assembled and is waiting 
for him. And think you, that after such a long and fatiguing journey, be 


is fit to preach ? Since I have been traveling in these parts of the country, 


I was frequently compelled to spend the day on the road in the severest 
cold, and when I reached my appointment, I had scarcely any time for 
secret prayer, and no other closet than the snow-clad wilderness. And still 
some find fault with the preacher for not visiting them, although he fre- 
quently does not find time enough to read two or three chapters of the 
Bible during the whole week. I do not wish to complain, but think 
matters could be greatly improved. Many of our old preachers would, 
undoubtedly, be in the field, were they not compelled, by the want of an 
adequate support, to stay at home. Oh, that our boundaries of Ohio could 
be supplied with the necessary number of ministers! Now, though a mar- 
ried preacher on such an extensive circuit visits his family, that is from 100 
to 200 miles off, but two or three times during the year, yet much time is 
lost thereby, and the circuit does not receive its proper attention. The 
consequence is, that not by far that amount of good is realized, which could 
be accomplished if the arrangements were better and the number of ministers 
larger.’’* 


*) In the vicinity of the Hope Church, in Wayne County, Ohio, where a number 
of Alsatians and other immigrants had settled, the work commenced in the year 1837, 
ef which we here insert a summarized report with reference to its beginning and con- 
tinuation, as furnished us by Rev. George F. Spreng: “In the year 1837 John Raden- 
bach, who had been converted a year before, asked Father John Grimm whether he 
was willing to allow an Evangelical preacher to preach in his house. Grimm gavethe 
d:sired permission. Radenbach came there with a local preacher, named Jacob 
sfassler and the people came together full of curiosity to see and hear a “converted 
man,’ for such an one they believed never to have seen. He read a well known hymn, 
‘Spar deine Busse nicht’ (Delay not thy repentance) and then prayed very touching- 
ly. Then he preached from Mark 1. 15. At this place the local preachers had preached 
for two years, of whom the following lived on the circuit:—John Ebert, Elias Sichley, 
Adam Hennig, John Riegel, John Peters and Matthew Wonder. Finally the circuit 
preachers took it up as a regular appointment, and Aaron Yambert and John Hall 
were the first preachers. In 1839 indications of an awakening appeared, and two 
daughters of the family where they preached were converted. One of these was the 


 —- | 


1838. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 281 


Our small societies in Illinois had to pass through another severe trial 
this year, being deprived of the services of a minister for about eight 
months. But notwithstanding this, they kept up their religious services, 
although under great discouragements, The second preacher of our Asso- 
ciation who visited that State, was Bro. Matt. Hauert. In a report of 
these circumstances and his visits, published in the Paper, he writes as 
follows :— 

“As Bro. Peter Wiest, who had been appointed for these parts, could not 
for certain reasons, enter that field, the children of Zion in the far West 
were for eight months deprived of the services of a minister. In their 
longing for the preaching of the word of God, they laid their case before 
the throne of grace. The Germans in these parts are generally very eager 
to hear the Gospel preached. The prayers of our friends were answered. 
Agreeably to the order of my presiding elder, I set out for these distant 
parts, and arrived, with the help of God, on the 3rd of September, safe and 
sound within 30 miles west of Chicago. My arrival caused great joy among 
the dear friends. The Lord assisted me powerfully while preaching his 
word, so that his children were encouraged and edified, and sinners awak- 

ened and convinced of the truth, some of whom found pardon in the blood 
~ of the Lamb, to the comfort and joy of their hearts. Hallelujah! I also 
traveled 117 miles to the Rock river, where I found some of our friends ; 
tears of joy flowed freely, and we had a precious time. Thence I traveled 
to the Illinois river, where many Germans live, who alas are, for the most 
part, like sheep having no shepherd. I preached to them as often as I 
could ; but on account of sickness some could not attend. Oh, that we as 
a German organization may soon come to the rescue of these straying sheep 
in the far West! We could, undoubtedly, gather many a sheaf for heaven. 
It is heart-rending to see that so many of our Germans live without God 


mother of Samuel P. Spreng, now editor of the Evangelical Messenger. In the year 1840, 
the never-to-be-forgotten Bro. Samuel Baumgartner and Bro. Benjamin Bixler came. 
These men were the instruments in the hand of God in the salvation of many, and 
they organized a class of 22 members. The Lord worked mightily—in the fields and 
the forests people broke down and cried for mercy. One of them went out with a 
scythe on his shoulder to his work, and as he walked along it seemed to him as if 
some one called, saying: ‘‘As you go out with your scythe so death goes about-—and 
what will become of you?’’ Then he fell down and cried for mercy, in such a man- 
ner, that two of his neighbors came running to see what had happened to him. This 
was Jacob Spreng, father of Otto and E. M. Spreng of the Ohio Conference. All those 
who were then converted were of the good soil with but one exception. Satan did not 
steal away the word, nor did it wither away upon stony ground. Most of those 
twenty-two have gone to glory. One of them, George F. Spreng, the Lord called to 
be a sower and he has been sowing since 1843. Others have prayed for a Samuet, 
(Samuel P. Spreng) and another family received an Enos (Enos Spreng) on the walls 
of Zion. And thus some will ‘ bear a hundred-fold.”. Oh how often did the brethren 
John Seybert and Joseph Long visit this place and preach the word with great 
liberty!” 


282 FPS LORY (OR SEITE [1838. 


in the world. Oh, how many of them do yet stand idle in the market, and 
not a few are already in the 11th hour of their pilgrimage! The harvest is 
great, but the faithful laborers are few.” 

Bro. Hauert, on his journey to Rock river, nm Henry County, and farther 
south, organized a small class in said county, as Bro. Boas had not come 
thus far, and they had, therefore, up to that time, been without a preacher. 
Meanwhile the Des Plaines society, under the direction of their class-leader, 
established the first Sunday-school of the Evangelical Association in the far 
West ; it consisted of the superintendent, three male and two female teach- 
ers, and fifteen scholars. There being no permanent locality for the schoo! 
to meet in, and the scholars and teachers living at a distance of three or 
four miles from each other, the enterprise was attended with great difficul- 
ties. Moreover, there was also a great want of suitable Sunday-school 
books, and they had to shift as well as they could with Bibles, hymn-books, 
old catechisms, etc. Yet they were not discouraged, and their labors have 
been crowned with abundant success ; the school has continued ever since, 
exerting a most salutary influence on the young of the whole neighborhood, 
and has thus been a great blessing to the society. 

On motion of the class-leader, it was resolved by the society to erect a 
church, and this resolution was carried out during the months of April, 
May and June, 1839. A man, then yet unconverted, named Nicholas Miller, 
presented to the society an acre of ground for a church and a graveyard. A * 
building of hewn timber, 21 by 23, was erected by the united efforts of the 
society; yet the class-leader did most of the work himself. This, then, was 
the first church of the Evangelical Association, west of the State of Ohio, 
directly one mile and a half east of Wheeling, Cook County, Illinois. Bro. 
Hauert labored with very great success during his five months’ stay 
among these people. Not only were the young societies more thoroughly 
established and richly comforted, but powerful conversions also took 
place. 

The new circuit then consisted of four regular preaching places; as, 
Des Plaines or Wheeling, Naperville, Dutchman’s Point, and Sharonin Henry 
County. Although the appointments were but few, a “round” on the circuit 
amounted to three hundred miles—the distance from one preaching place 
to the other, was in one instance 130, and in another 150 miles ; and as the 
preacher was German, and the population for the most part English, he 
could take up no new preaching places. 

The northern half of the State of Illinois was in those days, for the 
most part, an almost impassable wilderness and very thinly settled. The 
distance between dwelling houses, even along the main roads, was often 
from 15 to 30 miles ; and even these few inhabitants were but poorly pre- 
pared to accommodate strangers, so that traveling in those parts of the 
country was then extremely difficult. Where now fields in a high state of 
culture, and respectable farm-houses, greatly delight the eye of the beholder, 


1839.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 283 


the solitary traveler saw in those days nothing but a blooming wilderness, 
where wolves, cranes, bitterns and partridges, swarmed by hundreds and 
thousands in perfect security. 

Toward the close of the conference year, at the end of February, 1839, 
Bro. Hauert took his leave to attend the session of the Western Conference, 
leaving the young circuit in a highly flourishing and promising state, num- 
bering 78 members, fifteen of whom are designated in the record of 
Conference as new converts, and eighteen as newly received. Notwith- 
standing their great poverty and the many difficulties they encountered, 
they had raised $74.32 for the support of the preacher, though he had 
labored but five months among them. 


§ 195. Beginning of the Work in Michigan. 


This year, Bro.Solomon Altimos removed to the State of Michigan, and 
settled in Monroe County. He preached in different places, both in Michi- 
gan and the northern part of Indiana, and in several places met with 
members of the Evangelical Association, who had emigrated from the State 
of New York, and formed them into classes. Thus he laid the foundation 
of the operations of our Church in Michigan and in the northern part of 
Indiana. In the Counties of Adams, Wells and Allen, along the St. Mary’s 
river, he met with many Germans and preached to them. Also in Fort 
Wayne, Indiana, he was hospitably received by Bro. Stetzel, and preached 
there with great success. He also paid a visit to Detroit, and preached 
there in the German language. This was the beginning of the operations 
of our Church in the southern part of Michigan and the northern part of 
Indiana. 

From this description of the condition of the Society in those days, it 
appears that it had arrived at a very important and eventful epoch of its 
history. The germ of the inward power of the Association, that had thus 
far but slowly expanded, now began to develop itself more rapidly. As a 
stream swollen by a heavy and long continued rain, overflows its banks, 
so the Church now began to go beyond its former limits in every direc- 
tion. 

The provisions for the better support of the ministers, their more rapid 
increase in point of numbers, their growth in outward and inward culture 
and qualification generally, the introduction of protracted meetings, Sunday- 
schools, and the cause of missions, but above all the founding of the 
Church paper (the Christliche Botschafter) and of the Publishing House, 
exerted a very salutary influence on both the Association and the public 
at large, contributing largely to the prosperity and growing usefulness 
of the Church. The Society began to command more respect in general, 
and even some of its former most inveterate enemies commenced, at least 
in appearance, to show it more respect, although they had no more 


sympathy for it than before. ; 
If 


284 HISTORY OF THE [1839, 


§ 196. Salutary Influence of the “ Christliche Botschafter.” 


This Church paper had been instrumental in placing the Association, 
its principles, object, and mode of operation in a more favorable light, in 
arousing and bringing to public notice the talents of its more gifted minis- 
ters, in fostering generally a spirit of inquiry and study and uniting the 
strength of the Church to carry on the work still more effectually. But its 
influence also overstepped the boundaries of the Church as its circulation 
increased. It was read and subscribed for by many who were not members. 
To its usefulness many of the subscribers and agents testified, as a few 
extracts from among many willshow. One of them wrote to the editor as 
follows :— 


“We thank God that the Christliche Botschafter has found its way 


into our part of the country; it has already accomplished great good. It 

has gained admittance into many a home where it found opportunity to 

teach and preach, and I trust many more homes will be opened to it.” 
Another wrote thus :— 


‘Perhaps no observer has failed to see, that the publication of the 
Christliche Botschafter has made an epoch in the history of the Evangelical 
Association, a fact that secures it a high rank in the esteem of every true 
friend of the principles of our Church, although it still admits of many 
improvements. The expectations that were entertained at its start have 
been more than realized, and a correspondent of the Botschafter, instead of 
addressing 50 or 100 hearers, has the satisfaction of speaking at once to at 
least 4000 or 5000 readers. A means through which all the members of 
the connection can be addressed at once, is of incalculable benefit ; for 
thereby an eminent object, that is indispensably necessary for the continuous 
prosperity of the connection, is secured, viz.: An identity of views through- 
out all the societies. JT am also very much pleased to perceive that the 
usefulness of the Botschafter is to be materially enhanced by the enlarge- 
ment and more frequent publication. It is presumed that none of its 
present subscribers will be induced by the slight increase of its subscription 
price to discontinue it, while on the other hand it is confidently expected 
that it will receive many new subscribers, and that its agents will not rest 
satisfied until it is taken by every family within the Association, and by 
many others.” 


The number of members was at the close of this conference year 7,859, 
the increase during the year 550. 


There occurred but one death in the ministry during the year, namely 
that of Bro. Benjamin Ettinger. He resided in Scott Township, Sandusky 
County, Ohio. Bro. Ettinger found Christ in his youth and soon after- 
wards united with the Evangelical Association. He served about 5 years 
as an itinerant, and the remainder of his life in the capacity of a local 


a 


1839. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 285 


preacher. Qn his death-bed he had uninterrupted peace, and died in the 
hope of immortality, in his 45th year. 


§ 197. The Seventh General Conference, 


which took place in the year 1839, was a very important assembly. Its 
transactions were perhaps more far-reaching than those of any other General 
Conference held hitherto, and were highly promotive of the good work. A 
condensed report is given here. 


This was the first General Conference that had been appointed by the 
one preceding, and took place in the church of the Evangelical Association, 
about three miles south-west of Millheim, Center County, Pa., commonly 
called Mosser’s Church. Its session began March 2&th, 1839. 


As the Society had as yet no bishop, Henry Niebel, the president of 
the last General Conference, opened the session by reading a part of the 
Word of God, singing, and prayer. Thomas Buck was then elected chair- 
man, and he appointed George Brickley, secretary. 


Hitherto the Discipline of the Church contained no provision, either 
defining or limiting the power of General Conference, so that this body had, 
in fact, an unlimited power. It could make alterations of, and additions to 
the doctrines and government of the Church, as it deemed best, But this 
Conference adopted a constitution, defining the power of future General 
Conferences. This constitution, however, can be altered under certain 
conditions, with the exception of the articles of faith, and has been changed 
somewhat since. This was a very necessary measure, and ought to have 
been adopted fifteen years before. 


This Conference also considerably limited the power of the bishops, 
with regard to the appointments of the preachers, and their transfer from 
one place to another, during the interval of the Annual Conferences. 
Heretofore, a bishop was authorized, with the assistance of two presiding 
elders, to assign, at the Annual Conferences, both to the presiding elders 
their districts, and to the preachers their circuits, and in the interval of the 
Annual Conferences to transfer both presiding elders and preachers, accord- 
ing to his option. Attempts have since been made to restore this power of 
the bishops, especially with regard to the transfer of preachers from one 
Conference to another ; but not being supported by a constitutional major- 
ity (three-fourths) of the General Conference, it proved a failure. As, 
however, the connection had no bishop from the publication of its Doctrines 
and Discipline up to this time, this power vested in the bishop, was never 
exercised by an incumbent. But as this Conference elected a bishop, it 
was therefore considered expedient to define his power. Bro. John 
Seybert was elevated to this highest office of the Church, and thus became 


286 HISTORY OF THE [1839. 


the first “regular’’ Bishop of the Association, according to the rules of the 
Discipline.* 

As to Mr. Albright, he was elected to this office before the Doctrines 
and the Discipline had been adopted. His case was in every respect an 
extraordinary one; for even before his elevation to the superintendency of 
the Church, which happened but a short time before his death, he exercised, 
from the very organization of the Association till his death, all episcopal 
power, transferring preachers and arranging everything in the Association, 
as it seemed best to him, yet not always without consulting his brethren. 
He was, therefore, in the full sense of the word, the bishop of the Associa- 
tion from the time of its organization to his death, exerting a power and 
influence upon it, such as no bishop has done after him and probably none 
ever will.t . 


Together with these changes of the Discipline, others were made, and 
a number of new clauses and rules introduced, especially in the chapter on 
“ Temporal Economy.” Of these new laws and rules, the following are the 
most important: “Of selling and using Spirituous Liquors;” “Of Slavery;” 
the above mentioned constitution or rules, touching the power of the Gen- 
eral Conference, and the section : ‘Of the Support of Missions.” With these 
new regulations new clauses were introduced in different places ; for instance, 
the addition to the duties of the superintending preachers, making it obli- 
gatory on them to establish Sunday-schools wherever practicable. The 
chapter on the “ Temporal Economy” of the Association was considerably 
changed, especially the section concerning our Printing Establishment, and 
that of the support of the preachers. The unequitable rule which diminished 
the small salary of the married preachers still more, increasing thereby that 
of the single men, which the General Conference of 1835 had introduced, 
was repealed and the former rule re-introduced. With the limitation of 
the power of General Conference, and the change of its routine of business, 
the delegate system was introduced, which made the General Conference 
consist of one member for every four members of each Annual Conference. 





*) In historical order Bishop Seybert was beyond all contradiction the second bis- 
hop in the Evangelical Association. But everyone who knew him will readily admit 
without injustice to anyone else, that with regard to diligence, devotion, humility, 
unceasing labors and success Seybert was among all the preachersand Church officers 
of his time, first and foremost. 

t) Mr. Albright was in the full sense of the word the first bishop of the Evangelical 
Association. From the historical standpoint, the facts that he was elected bishop in 
1807 and remained bishop until his death and was acknowledged as such by his co- 
laborers, make an end of all criticism on this point. When it is said that Seybert was 
the first “regular” bishop, that is as much as saying that he was the first bishop 
restricted in his office by rules and regulations, and that leaves Albright as the bishop 
unrestricted in the exercise of episcopal functions. Both historical justice and proper 
respect of the Evangelical Association toward him require that he be recognized 
without any modification as our first bishop. 


} 
1839. | EVANGELICAL ASSOCIA TION, 287 


As before stated, each elder was heretofore entitled to a seat and vote at 
the General Conference. This change was evidently for the better, as 
General Conference could henceforth be composed of the most experienced 
and generally most talented members of the ministry, and the annual con- 
ferences represented proportionably. 

The new Publishing House claimed and received the particular 
attention of this Conference. Its present arrangement was not only sanc- 
tioned, but various measures were taken to increase its efficiency. It was 
resolved, that the Christliche Botschafter, beginning with the following 
year, be published semi-monthly instead of once a month, and be enlarged 
somewhat, at the slight addition of 25 cents to the former subscription 
price. This gave a powerful impulse to the paper, bunt at the same time 
more than doubled the amount of labor in the Establishment. From that 
time the paper made rapid progress and exerted a constantly increasing 
salutary influence on the connection. 

Arrangements were also made to publish a considerable number of 
Sunday-school and other books, especially the well-known stereotyped 
German pocket Bible of the Association. This latter work was, indeed, a 
great enterprise in those days, as it cost almost or fully as much as the 
Establishment itself; but it being published for subscribers at a high price, 
the undertaking succeeded, though not without some difficulty. The first 
edition nearly covered the cost of the plates, and the price was then reduced 
to less than one-half. The little school-book, called “Anfangsbuch”’ 
(primer), was in manuscript approved by the Conference, and 6000 copies 
were ordered to be printed. Two new committees, one called the Book 
Committee, the other the Committee for examining new works that may 
be offered for publication, were elected; also a third one, to select and 
prepare Sunday-school books for publication. 

This Conference also took the first measures toward publishing a history 
of the Evangelical Association. 

The Conference resolved, that a history be compiled, according 
to the plan devised, and be published in the following manner: 
Three brethren were appointed, one for each Conference ; viz.: Charles 
Hammer for the West Pennsylvania, Thomas Buck for the Hast Pennsyl- 
vania, and John Dreisbach for the Ohio Conference; of whom it was 
required to gather the necessary materials, which Wilfiam W. Orwig was 
then to arrange and collect into a book. But this resolution was not 
carried out, as only a few sheets of written matter were produced. The 
appointed brethren found their task much more difficult than the Conference 
had anticipated ; nor did they receive that assistance from the ministers, 
on which they had calculated. Thus the matter remained till the next 
General Conference. 

William W. Orwig was re-elected editor for four years, and the Estab- 
lishment received an additional officer, the General Agent, the duties of 


288 HISTORY OF (Tike [1839. 


which office had hitherto been attended to by the editor. Bro, Charles 
Hammer was appointed to this office. This was a necessary and highly 
beneficial improvement. 

As the two Annual Conferences had increased considerably for several 
years, and became pretty strong in numbers of preachers and members, they 
were divided into three new Annual Conferences with the following 
names :— 

1. East Pennsylvania Conference, consisting of the districts: Phila- 
delphia, Canaan and Moriah. 2. West Pennsylvania Conference, consisting 
of the districts : Zion, Salem and Carmel. 3. Ohio Conference, consisting 
of the districts : Tabor, Sandusky and Ohio. The territory of East Penn- 
sylvania Conference embraced the part of Pennsylvania east of the two 
branches of the Susquehannah, a great portion of the north-western part of 
the State of New York as far as the City of Buffalo, and subsequently ex- 
tended over a great part of (then) Upper Canada; that of West Pennsylvania 
Conference embraced Pennsylvania west of the two branches of the Sus- 
quehannah, and extended into Maryland and Virginia; that of Ohio 
Conference embraced the greater part of Ohio, and some parts of Indiana 
and Illinois. This, then, was the field of labor of the Evangelical Associa- 
tion in those days, numbering three Annual Conferences, 85 itinerants, 36 
circuits, 2 stations, and 4 missions which were divided into nine presiding 
elder districts.* 

As to the cause of missions, it received the full attention and warm 
support of this General Conference, for not. only was the lately founded 
Missionary Society sanctioned, but a section on the Support of Missions 
was introduced into the Discipline of the Church. 

As the cost of living is generally more expensive in cities than 
elsewhere, this General Conference authorized the Annual Conferences 
to increase the salary of all their preachers and missionaries in these 
places, beyond what the Discipline allows, to any amount they may deem 
necessary. 

On the whole, this Conference was characterized by great zeal for the 
cause of God. It was animated, not by that timid, faithless, and fainting 
spirit, which never dares do or undertake much for God’s kingdom, but by 
a bold enterprising spirit, that took hold not only of the majority of the . 


*) From these facts it is very evident that these three Conferences are of equal age 
and are therefore the three oldest aunual Conferences. The East and West (now ‘“‘Cen- 
tral’’) Pennsylvania, and Ohio Conferences are stili in existence, (1894) and have in 
their several conference records the same year-number, beginning with 1840. We 
have no one oldest, nor any mother conference since the old Eastern became defunct 
in 1839, That the West Pa., and Ohio Conferences should have been in anyway sub- 
ordinated to the East Pennsylvania Conference is the fiction of an ignoramus. The 
fathers in the Church who were members of the General Conference in 1839, also tell 
us plainly in their diaries and otherwise, that these three new Conferences were made 
independent of each other. Both the records and practice agree in this matter. 


1839.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 289 


ministry, but also of some of the societies and members. It was particu- 
larly the missionary spirit which filled the whole Association in those days ; 
and this spirit called forth and fostered, as it always does, a deep interest 
in all enterprises having the glory of God for their object. 


§ 198. A Very Important Transaction. 


One of the most important and salutary transactions of this Confer- 
ence was the election of John Seybert to the office of Bishop. Bro. Seybert 
‘remained, like the apostle Paul, unmarried, on account of the work of the Lord. 
He was a traveling preacher, pioneer, and missionary in the fullest sense of 
the word. He lived and moved in the service of the Master, and had the 
unlimited confidence of the General Conference which elected him unani- 
mously (his own vote excepted) to this Azghest office in the Evangelical 
Association, and he possessed to a like degree the respect and confidence 
of the membership of the Church—to which his life and conduct entitled 
him fully. So far as is known to us he retained this unlimited confidence 
to the end of his earthly life. He was re-elected every four years until his 
happy departure to the better world in 1860. 


Concerning his first election we find the following notice in the diary 
of Rev. Absalom B. Schaefer, who was a member of that General Confer- 
ence :— 


“The election of Bro. John Seybert to the office of Bishop, was to me 
very remarkable and solemn. It seemed he had not expected it, but when 
it was announced that John Seybert had been elected as Bishop of the Evan- 
gelical Association he arose and walked back into one of the last pews, 
bowed down and wept for a time. Afterward he arose, came forward and 
said: ‘I have-promised God to be obedient, and since the brethren have 
elected me to be overseer I will acquiesce, but I realize that J] lack that 
fitness for this weighty office which my older brethren possess—you must, 
therefore, pray for me and have patience with me.’ This and other utter- 
ances of his came evidently from the heart, and made such an impression 
that the whole Conference was melted to tears, At this episcopal election 
I saw how necessary it is that the office seek the man and not the man the 
office.” 

On the evening of that day Bishop Seybert wrote in his diary as follows: 
“March 26, 1839. On Wednesday the cause of missions was taken into 
consideration, and a Bishop was elected at about five o’clock P. M., which 
important office unexpectedly fell to my lot, which burdened me so much 
on account of the importance of the office, that it pressed tears from my 
eyes. Fora time I lost my appetite for eating, and sleep fled from me, but 
gradually I felt relieved and more composed. I felt inwardly disposed to 
aumble myself under God and my brethren and to serve faithfully in the 


290 HISTORY OF THE {1839. 


administration of this office, and labor for the glory of God and the welfare 
of my fellow-travelers to eternity.’* 

Soon after his election he published the following call to the ministry, 
which shows very clearly “of what spirit” he was. This call ought to 
find its proper echo in the Evangelical Association from generation to 
generation :— f 

“Dearly beloved! Inasmuch as the cause of the Lord rests heavily 
on my heart, and as I feel inwardly stirred and constrained, to devote my- 
self to His work by day and night without ceasing, with soul and body, 
therefore I desire, through the Christliche Botschafter, to encourage our 
Evangelical friends, and in general all who love God, in this important 
cause, which also has been done by other brethren, and not without good 
effect upon sincere souls. 


“But, as hitherto appeals have been made principally to the lay- 


members, I would at this time speak a word to their leaders, and commu- 
nicate my thoughts and convictions to them in a simple and upright 
manner, especially since at the present time there seems to be a greater 
lack of active ministers in our Association, than ever before. 

“The question first arises: Where lies the fault? Certainly not on 
the side of God, who would that all men should be saved and come to the 
knowledge of the truth. The fault, then, must be with us. Evidently 
there is a lack of love to God and to our fellow men in the hearts of many, 
as also 3 lack of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, the Great Head of the 
Church, our adorable Lord, who gave His life for us when we were yet 
enemies, 

“Phere is an especial want among us of the following qualities, which 
the Master possessed :— 

“First: We lack the spirit of humility, which He displayed in the 
voluntary acceptance of the poverty and obscurity that marked the circum- 
stances of His birth and early career. 

“Second: That voluntary submission to the shame of the crogs; we 
ere not willing to bear the derision of every fool and devil’s imp. 





*) “ During the first months after the election to this new office he wept and prayed 
much in secret and often shed tears in public because it burdened him so much. He 
could scarcely endure the thought that he should exercise the oversight overthe whole 
work of 80 itinerant ministers, and frequently said: ‘Why did they not elect a man 
who would be more competent for the office?’ Although he was willing to apply ali 
his talents and strength to the discharge of his official duties, he contended they were 
not sufficient for the functions of a Bishop. During the first weeks, appetite and sleep 
left him, and often he wept for a long time on his bed. Jt seemed he had to be cone 
verted to the episcopacy after his election to this office. But after he had presided 
over the first Annual Conference and everything passed off acceptably, and his minis- 
terial brethren from all directions encouraged him, he determined fully to go forward 
in the name of the Lord, and serve God and the Church in this office éo the bes of bis 
ability.”"— Life of Seybert (German), pp. 202-205. 


C—O ee ee ee 


1839. | EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 291 


“Third: That willingness to suffer afflictions and tribulations with- 
out number, even unto death. Behold the love of Him, who was 
constrained by His very agonies to pray for His merciless tormentors. 

“Tf there were more of the Spirit and qualities of Jesus among us in 
general, there would be less of the cares of the world to absorb our time, 
engage our attention and exhaust our energies ; we would deny ourselves 
of all earthly things, and, without fear of want, without making provision 
for the flesh, in confidence in him who upholds the sparrow and hears the 
young ravens when they cry, and clothes the lilies of the field with inimit- 
able glory, we would surmount all difficulties, in order to execute the 
command of Christ, to bring to the world the glad message of her crucified 
Redeemer, There would not be so many unanswered Macedonian calls 
from Canada and other localities, where they are in need of true 
shepherds and true preachers of the Gospel. The thousands of poor Ger- 
mans in the States of Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, etc., who wander 
amid perils in the moral desert in great throngs, like sheep without a 
shepherd, would in that case soon be fed with the bread of life. 

“Tf the Spirit of Christ were dominant in us, there would not be so 
many who, in their best years, excuse themselves from active work and 
locate for the purpose of pursuing worldly objects. And many others would 
forthwith extricate themselves from their temporal complications to enter 
the Gospel ministry. Oh, it is to be feared, that many bury the talent 
which has been entrusted to them, and will eventually be adjudged slothful 
and wicked servants. 

“As for myself, I am deeply grieved, because I hesitated until my 
thirtieth year, before [ ventured out into the Gospel field, and because I did 
not begin earlier to blow the Gospel trumpet. However, with me it was 
not worldly greed, nor domestic affairs, that kept me back, but natural 
diffidence, and a keen sense of my inability caused me to doubt my call and 
shrink from the magnitude of the undertaking. But I cautiously avoided 
temporal entanglements, which might at any time prevent me from going, 
and waited for a more positive Divine call and better fitness for the office, 
just as a sea-captain, with sails spread, watches for a favorable wind. 
Finally, however, my unrest became intolerable ; I could no longer contain 
myself at home, and therefore, with Christ ventured out upon the stormy 
and tempestuous voyage which my career has proved to be. 

“ But now, many have located before they reach their thirtieth year. 
Just when by reason of practice and experience they are properly fitted for 
this important office, and when, by reason of physical strength and intel- 
lectual maturity, they could be eminently useful to the Church in defend- 
ing and proclaiming her doctrines with ability and manly courage, they 
take the hand from the plough and look back. Is not this a marvellous 
thing? Were these men really sent of the Lord, and have they turned 
back and become unfaithful? Or did they run without being commis- 


292 PISTORYV I ORTTTIE [1839. 


sioned from above? Let each one examine himself—and the innocent shall 
be free ! 

“ What then? Who will go into the battle-field where the fight is 
fiercest, and maintain his position under the banner of Jesus unto death ? 
Who is willing and ready to die in the field? Reader, what think you? 
Do you know of one such? I know ofone! Up, yelaggards! The harv- 
est truly is great, but the laborers are few. Pray ye, therefore, the Lord of 
the harvest, that He may send laborers into His vineyard.” 

J This “one” was, of course, himself, and his whole career confirmed 
his brave words. 


§ 199. Another Very Momentous Transaction. 


Until this time General Conference had, as already remarked, full power ~ 
and liberty, to make new laws for the Church, to change any part of our 
Discipline, even the articles of faith, according to its own judgment. 
Its power was practically unlimited. But it now adopted a constitution 
which restricted its power considerably, and thus introduced a self-limita- 
tion upon this highest body of the Church. From this time forward this 
Conference could alone change only laws and regulations in the “ Temporal 
Economy ” of the discipline as it might see fit, but in regard to the other 
“Rules ” and the introduction of new laws it is bound to the consent of 
two-thirds of all the members of the Annual Conferences as we now have 
it in the Discipline under the head of “General Conference”, etc. And 
with regard to the Articles of Faith any change whatever is prohibited. 
Hence the assertion that the General Conference as the highest legislative 
and judicial body in the Church could do what it pleases, is incorrect and 
even revolutionary. General Conference is restricted with reference to 
the disciplinary rights of the Annual Conferences, and in regard to the 
management of the cause of missions she can do nothing that is in conflict 
with the constitution of the Missionary Society, which she has herself 
sanctioned and made binding. 

The Articles of Faith contain all the unchangeable foundational doctrines 
of Holy Scripture, consequently it is perfectly and logically just that they 
should be constitutionally unchangeable among us. If an edifice is to 
stand, then, above all things, its foundation must be immovable. If it were 
allowed to move its basal stones to and fro, how soon it would tumble 
down !—If in a Church the cardinal doctrines are left subject to change 
then how soon will various “ winds of doctrine” arise to toss the people to 
and fro and cause confusion. Against such possibilities of evil, safe pro- 
visions have thus been made. 

This General Conference closed its session, as follows: “The session 
of this Conference was closed in peace and love, and every member of it 
signed his name to the proceedings as a token of approval of all the above — 
resolutions, items and transactions. Thomas Buck, George Brickley, Francis 


1839. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 293 


Hoffman, Charles Hammer, Michael F. Maize, Daniel Berger, Jacob Barber, 
Daniel Kehr, John M. Sindlinger, Charles Hesser, Peter Getz, Jacob Boas, 
Henry Bucks, Henry Niebel, Aaron Yambert, John J. Kopp, Solomon G. 
Miller, John G. Zinser, Peter Wiest, Samuel V. Gunten, Philip Wagner, 
Absalom B. Schaefer, Elias Stoever, John Sensel, Joseph Harlacher, John 
Young, John Lutz, John Seybert, John P. Leib, Joseph Long and 
William W. Orwig. 


§ 200. Annual Conference Sessions. 


For the last time the Western and Hastern Conferences held their 
annual sessions because they had as a matter of course appointed them at 
their sessions a year previous. They had to wind up their affairs and 
afterward the three new Conferences would step in and go into full oper- 
ation. 

The Western Conference assembled in the Evangelical Church at 
Green Township, Stark County, Ohio, March 4th, 1839, and the Eastern 
Conference in the town of Lebanon, Pa., April 11th. At the former Henry 
Niebel was chairman, and at the latter Bishop Seybert presided. Heretofore 
the Annual Conferences had elected their presiding officers from among 
the presiding elders, but now the Bishop presided over both the Annual 
and General Conferences. Seven preachers located and twelve new ones 
were received into the itinerancy. The Western Conference created a new 
presiding elder district, which was called Sandusky district, and six new 
circuits, partly by dividing the larger ones, partly by extending its 
sphere of operations. The Hastern Conference formed a new station 
called Pottsville and Minersville station, and established four missions, two 
in (then) Upper Canada, one in the State and one in the City of New York, 
viz.: New York Mission, Jacob Borkert, missionary ; Mohawk Mission, 
Christian Hummel, missionary; in Upper Canada, Waterloo Mission, 
Christian Holl, missionary ; Black Creek Mission, Michael His, missionary. 
These then were the first regular missions of the Evangelical Asso- 
ciation.” 

Since the year 1860 an opinion has obtained considerable prevalence 
in some quarters that the Hast Pennsylvania Conference was the oldest 
Annual Conference and was therefore entitled to the prerogative by 
priority in a certain contingency mentioned in the Discipline connected 
with the provision for fixing time and place for the meeting of General 
Oonference. No valid historical proof is offered in support of this senti- 
ment. The following paragraph written by Rev. William W. Orwig ought 
to be conclusive on this point: ‘The General Conference having created 
three new Conferences out of the two old ones, the names of the latter were 





*) Tt has been erroneously asserted that the East Pennsylvania Conference estab- 
lished these missions. The East Pennsylvania Conference had its first session one 
year later, in 1840. 


294 ALS LORY \ OL) \2 Lae [1839. 


as a, matter of course, dropped, and the ‘ Hastern Conference’ and ‘ Western 
Conference’ disappeared henceforth from the annals of the Church. There- 
fore, when the Eastern Conférence met for the last time, (as above mentioned) 
it was left optional with the preachers to choose one of the two 
Conferences or to receive an appointment within the limits of either. Some 
chose their Conference, others gave themselves up unconditionally.” Thus, 
then, there were now three new Conferences including the whole work, 
beginning their records and history all three equally with their first sessions 
in 1840,* 


§ 201. Formation of Conference Missionary Societies. 


“As the Hastern Conference at its last session in 1839, was in accordance 


with the provision of General Conference dissolved and the Hast Pa. and. 


West Pa. Conference now came into existence instead, so the same took 
place also with the Conference Missionary Society. This latter was formed, 
as we have already seen, in the year 1838, by the Eastern Conference, under 
thename: “ The German Evangelical Missionary Society of North America,” 
and gathered about $500 missionary money during the conference year. 
Also a number of auxiliaries were formed and attached to it. During the 
last session of the Hastern Conference this missionary society also assem- 
bled to hold its first and at the same time its /as¢t annual session, at which 
it was dissolved and two new Conference Missionary Societies were formed 
with new names and new constitutions. 

A few months before this, a constitution had been compiled for the 
Missionary Society of the Ev. Association which was to be formed. This 
document was adopted and said Society formed, with Bishop Seybert as its 
president, by the General Conference shortly before the last session of the 
Wastern Conference—and now both*the new Conference Missionary Aux- 
iliaries annexed themselves to it. The entire process in chronological order 
was as follows : 

1, At the session of the Hastern Conference from March 28th to April 
4th, 1838, “ The German Evangelical Missionary Society,” etc., was estab- 
lished which collected about $500 during the conference year. This was 
the first Missionary Society in the Evangelical Association, and had Rey. 
William W. Orwig for its president. 

2. On Christmas, 1838,—about nine months later—a meeting of 
preachers and laymen was held in New Berlin, Pa., which recognized the 


*) Rev. Absalom B. Schaefer, who was a member of the General Conference in 1839, 
says in his diary, page 51: “ The whole Church was divided into three Conference 
districts, made independent of each other, except in the missionary cause.’’ Here, 
then, are the same three Conferences, then created and made equal and independent, 
save only in regard to the cause of missions. General Conference having established 
the chief missionary society, the Annual Conferences were to form themselves inte 
auxiliary societies and co-operate in this respect. 


1839. EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION 295 


necessity of organizing a Chief Missionary Society for the Church, and 
John Seybert, George Brickley, and William W. Orwig were appointed as 
a committee to draft a constitution. On March Ist, 1839, another meeting 
was held at the house of John 8. Dunkel, in Buffalo township, Union Co., 
Pa., at which this constitution was adopted, and a preliminary organization 
of the Missionary Society of the Evangelical Association effected. John Sey- 
bert was elected its president, together with the other officers of the Society. 

3. <A few weeks afterward General Conference assembled viz.: on the 

25th of March, 1839, and ratified this constitution, thereby completing the 
formation of the Missionary Society of the Evangelical Association. 
4, Again a few weeks later, viz.: April 14th, 1839, the Eastern Con- 
ference held its last session and completed practically the division of this 
Conference as ordered by General Conference into the East Pa., and West 
Pa. Conferences, which was at the same time also the cessation of the 
Eastern Conference. During this session of said Conference the German 
Evangelical Missionary Society also held its first and last annual meeting, 
and thereby also closed its existence and transferred its funds in equal halves 
to the two new Conference Missionary Societies. 

An abstract of the proceedings of this annual missionary meeting was 
published in the Christliche Botschafter for May, 1839, in which we find 
the following items: “At the annual meeting of the German Evangelical 
Missionary Society of N. A., held at Lebanon, Pa., on the 15th of April, 
1839, it was 

Resolved, That this Society divide itself into the East Pa., and West 
Pa, Conference Missionary Societies and that the funds in the treasury also 
be divided equally.” 

Thereupon two new constitutions for the two new Societies were pre- 
sented and adopted, and by an election of officers for the new Societies 
their organizations were completed. John P. Leib was elected president of 
the East Pa. Conference Missionary Society, and Philip Wagner of the 
West Pa. Conference Society. Thus the Hast Pa. Conference Missionary 
Society came into existence on the 15th of April, 1839, and at tke same 
place and time, and by the same authority the West Pa. Conference Mission- 
ary Society began its existence. 

In the month of November, 1839, the editor of the Christliche Bot. 
schafter wrote as follows: “This Society (German Hy. Miss. Society) was 
last Spring, at the annual meeting dissolved, and two new Societies organized ; 
one is now called the Hast Pa., and the other West Pa. Conference Mission- 
ary Society as branches to the Missionary Society of the Evangelical 
Association of N. A.” In the Botschafter of May, 1840, Rev. Charles 
Hammer, being secretary of the West Pa. Conference Missionary Society, 
wrote thus :“Our Society now has existed one year, although several aux- 
iliaries were formed before and attached to the German Hv. Miss. Society. 
But as that Society was dissolved on the 15th of April, 1839, and out of it 


296 HISTORY OF THE [1839. 


two new Societres were organized, the auxiliaries within the West Pa. Con- 
ference attached themselves to our Conference Society.” 

Thus we see that, first, The German Evangelical Missionary Society 
was organized ; second, The Missionary Society of the Evangelical Associa- 
tion was organized ; third, The first named Society was discontinued, and 
out of it the East Pa., and West Pa. Conference Missionary Societies were 
formed, and thus these latter two are of equal age and both younger than 
the Missionary Society of the Ev. Association. 

There has been ae opinion advocated which was also put into print by 
Rev. Solomon Neitz,* that the Hast Pa. Conference Missionary Society 
was the first and oldest Missionary Society in the Evangelical Association, 
That this opinion is altogether unfounded is evident from the above histor- 
ical facts chronologically stated as they occurred. These facts are all derived 
from official sources and documents.f Here it seems proper to repeat 
what Father John Dreisbach wrote to the author many years ago: “It is 
very desirable that great care be had in compiling fragments of our history 
that no errors but only the truth be published.” Every intelligent reader 
will see that Father Dreisbach advocated a principle which must govern all 
reliable compilations of history. 

The Ohio Conference Missionary Society was organized a year later, in 
1840, and the younger Conferences followed in this line, so that in each of 
our Annual Conferences there is a, Conference Missionary Society in opera- 
tion. 


§ 202. Further Prosperity of the Work. 


The Association enjoyed great prosperity in this, as she had also in 
the preceding year. The work extended considerably, and glorious awak- 
enings occurred in different places. Most of the new circuits in the West 
and the four missions in the North gained firm footing, and the old fields 
of labor were extended and strengthened. 

As the founding of the Evangelical Association and its labors had, in 
former days, been considered superfluous and pernicious, by some of the 
older ecclesiastical organizations ; so its present attempt to establish home 
missions was also found fault with, especially in those parts where said 
denominations had regular churches and preachers. They saw in this 
attempt an insult offered to their churchly character, and a declaration on 
our part, that they were heathen. It is true, there were in most of the 
existing Churches praiseworthy exceptions, but there were still whole dis- 





*) See Life of Seybert, p. 217. 


+) As the East Pa. Conference Missionary Society has, up to the present time, 
counted the year of the existence of the “ German Evangelical Missionary Society,” 
as the first year of its existence and hence numbers one year more than the Central 
Pa. Conference Missionary Society, its enumeration is without doubt one year too 
high and its record ought to be corrected in this respect. 





1839. | EVANGELICAL ASSOCIA TION 297 


tricts and parts of country, where the conduct of many members of said 
denominations was not a whit better than that of heathen ; and as this was 
the case then, so it has been ever since, in almost all parts of the country. 
Other denominations, again, were in appearance not so rude and godless as 
those just spoken of, and many of their members were well disposed, and 
conducted themselves becomingly ; but the great majority of the members 
of even these Churches had only the appearance of godliness, while they 
denied its power. This was the condition of the greater part of the German 
Churches of this country even in those times, and many of the English were 
not much better. In order to prove this, we here insert a few truthful 
reports on the state of morals in some parts of the United States. Bro. 
Daniel Berger, in a report of Lehigh circuit, in Lehigh County, Pa., in the 
year 1839, writes among other things as follows :— 

“ The attendance, on the whole, was good (he refers to a camp-meeting); 
but some of those present manifested their so-called faith by pelting the 
congregation with rotten eggs and stones. We cannot as yet say much of 
awakenings and conversions ; but there is no lack of opposition and perse- 
cution from the devil and his servants; and the great ignorance and 
unparalleled impiety of the people have astonished me this year more 
than ever before. Ihave, before this, been in places where the 
people were wicked ; but nowhere found such shameful wickedness as in 
this part of the country. Here the words of our Saviour are fully applica- 
ble: ‘Behold! I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves.’ ” 

Bro. John G. Zinser, in a report of some camp-meetings in 1839, 
in the State of Ohio, writes of certain parts of Pickaway County, Ohio, as 
follows :— 

“The light of truth has not yet everywhere dissipated the uncommon 
spiritual darkness which envelops many of the German inhabitants of these 
parts of the country. It is true, the Gospel of Christ has in various places 
achieved many a glorious conquest, and not a few have been brought to a 
saving knowledge of the truth; yet it will require many more mighty 
struggles, before a great reformation can be brought about among these so 
very degenerate professors of religion, ” 


§ 203. Commencement of Mohawk Mission. 


We have already seen that the Eastern Conference at her last session, 
founded the Mohawk Mission in the State of New York, and appointed 
Christian Hummel as missionary. Out of this mission came a great part 
of the New York Conference and it seems therefore quite proper to insert 
here a detailed report concerning it. 

The so-called Mohawk Germans, among whom this mission was estab- 
lished, are the descendants of German Palatines and Swabians who in the 
year 1709, etc., were transported by the British Government into the prov- 
ince of New York and employed in the forests along the Hudson river 


298 HISTORY OF THE [1839. 


north of New York. Through the unfriendly treatment received at the 
hands of the provincial government of New York many of them were 
induced to move northward until they arrived in the beautiful Mohawk 
valley, stretching from Albany to Syracuse, where they were cordially 
received by the Mohawk tribe and other Indians. There they settled, and 
during 160 years retained their Rhenish dialect among themselves almost 
unmixed, excepting some Indian words and forms of expression which 
crept into it in course of time. Some Dutchmen afterward came among 
them who also introduced some of their modes of expression. Some of the 
family names in the Valley are mementos of them, such as Van Rensallaer, 
Van Buren, Van Courtlandt, Schuyler, etc. And when in later times, many 
English settlers came among them and the towns of Utica, Rome, Syracuse, 
etc., were founded, many Anglicisms were introduced into the vernacular.. 
And yet the descendants of these Germans retained their language in use, 
although they could also speak the English language. 

Sometime previous to the founding of this mission the English Metho- 
dists found open doors among these people and had many conversions, but 
did not properly take care of the work. The Evangelical preachers whe 
labored further west in this State also paid some visits to these people and 
found a hearty welcome, but were not able to take the work in hand prop- 
erly until the Hastern Conference finally established a mission and appointed 
a missionary. 

An extract from a letter by the jirst missionary, Bro. Hummel, will 
furnish us very interesting information with regard to the beginning and 
progress of the work on this mission. He says: 

“In the second year of my itinerancy, Conference sent me (1838) to 
Lake circuit, N. Y., and placed me under the charge of Jacob Riegel. Bro. 
Charles Hammer was our presiding elder. During the year we held a 
camp-meeting between the lakes, at which two brethren from Montgomery 
County, in the Mohawk Valley, came a distance of 140 miles, whose 
names were John Dunkel and John Rothschild. At this meeting John 
Dunkel expressed a strong desire that Bro. Hammer should send a preacher 
of the Gospel to his German people. But Bro. Hammer was obliged to 
answer that he had none to spare, yea that he had not even enough to 
supply our own fields. Then Dunkel asked for advice—what could be done ? 
He further said that we should not be concerned about the pay of the 
preacher ; he would obligate himself to pay the salary of a single preacher 
and his traveling expenses to the Conference. Still Bro. Hammer said he 
could not do anything and that he would have to wait till the session of 
the Conference. Then Mr. Dunkel requested Mr. Rothschild to write a 
letter and in that letter Mr. Dunkel requested Conference to send them a 
preacher, stating that he would obligate himself for ‘his salary and traveling 
expenses—and handed the letter to Bro. Hammer. About New Year I 
also received a letter from Mr. Dunkel addressed to Conference to the same 





1839. | EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 299 


effect. When these letters were read to Conference that body resolved to 
establish a mission in Mr. Dunkel’s neighborhood. 

“This Conference—held at Lebanon, Pa.,—then appointed me to this 
new mission, and upon the lst day of June I arrived there. I commenced 
in Syracuse and found entertainment with a man named Schweitzer. But 
this town was too far away from my proper field of labor. As I traveled 
farther, I was necessitated to ask for a night’s lodging in the village of 
Vernon. Here my host inquired of me who I was and whither I was trav- 
eling? While I sat at the supper-table he went, without my knowledge, 
and brought in Rev. L. Weaver, a Methodist minister, who greeted me in a 
very friendly manner. He entertained me all night, and next morning we 
took breakfast with one of his members. Here I was recommended to a 
German Lutheran minister who lived not far out of my way and had also 
been a pastor in Mr. Dunkel’s neighborhood. I looked up this pastor 
and found him to be a countryman—an open-hearted Swabian by the name 
of Wetzel, who gave me valuable information where I could find German 
people. He asked me to preach for him in Utica on the following Sunday, 
which I willingly promised, he then sent me to one of his deacons for 
lodging, all of which was quite a help to me in my further labors, The 
Lord also blessed my labors in Rome and likewise four miles away from 
there in Fullerton, (Conrad Settlement). In Utica it seemed at first as 
though all would go well until an over-ambitious pharisee stirred up 
strife, because I had not made my home with him. Now I went to Bro. 
Dunkel where J preached on Sunday, the Ist of June, in Frey’s school-house. 
As I left Dunkel’s he offered me money, which I refused for the present ; 
at my next appointment he repeated his offer, but I refused again, saying 
i would ask for it as soon as I needed it. 

“ The Lord was graciously and powerfully with us during the confer- 
ence year in opening many doors. Many sinners were converted, and 
financial contributions were quite liberal. From Rome northward to 
Constableville, Steuben, and Boonville, and southward to Verona, and 
eastward to Conajoharie, and right and left along the mountains and along 
the Mohawk river we found openings and several classes were organized. 
At the close of the year I started away from Dunkel’s to go to the Annual 
Conference, which was to be held in Schuylkill Haven, Pa. Now I asked 
Bro. Dunkel for money, but he wanted to know first how much I had 
received, whereupon I told him between $90 and $100, which he could 
scarcely believe. He then inquired concerning the temporal circumstances 
of the preachers, which I explained as well as I could, whereupon he gave 
me $100—to be distributed equaily among the preachers. Then he requested 
that Conference should send two preachers, and for the second one he 
would renew his former obligation. Conference readily acceded to this 
request and changed the mission into a circuit. I was returned and Bro. 
George Ramige given me as a colleague. 

20 


300 HISTORY OF THE [1839. 


“T left the appointments to Bro. Ramige and traveled northward to 
look up new appointments, in which I succeeded by the help of God. The 
circuit was soon extended across Black river and into Jefferson County, to 
Lafargeville, etc. The distance from Rome to the northern end was about 
100 miles, with many extensions to the right and left. Many doors were 
opened and the Lord blessed our labors with many awakenings and conver- 
sions. At the close of the year Bro. Dunkel gave his $100—he had given 
$10 before—which he did also for several years afterward. The Lord be 
praised for his gracious help !” 

At the expiration of this year he reported eighty-four conversions, and 
altogether 166 members. 


§ 204. New York City Mission. 


The mission in the city of New York was established from the convic- 
tion that a strictly evangelical mission among the Germans of that city was 
highly necessary, for which reason conference did not deem it necessary to 
wait till an invitation was sent from that quarter, as had been the case with 
the three other missionary fields, The following is the first report from 
that missionary field :— 

“ Since it is the duty of the missionaries to send quarterly reports of 
their missionary fields, and as it is believed that these reports will be read 
with some interest by all the readers of the Botschafter, especially by all 
the members of the Evangelical Association, who by their contributions to 
the cause of missions have exhibited so deep an interest in the welfare of 
these sheep going astray without a shepherd in the wilderness, I will send 
the first report of our mission. 

“J arrived here on the 3rd of May, and the following day I looked 
about for a convenient preaching place and succeeded. On the 12th, I 
preached the first sermon to seven hearers. Some thought it was not worth 
while to preach to so small a number; but I told them it was well worth 
while, etc.. My text was Rom, 1, 16.; the hearers were quite attentive, and 
some have come regularly ever since. The number has since increased, 
and I have reason to believe that some of the seed of the divine word has 
fallen on good ground. May the Lord grant his blessing, that it may spring 
up and bear fruit for everlasting life ! 

“T feel confident, that our labors in this place will not be in vain; yet 
the work is connected with many and great difficulties, and many a strenu- 
ous effort will be required, before much can be accomplished. For here we 
have to contend, not only with great immorality and wickedness, but also 
with a settled unbelief, both rationalism and atheism. This mission is also 
more expensive than the friends have probably been aware of. For the 
preaching place I have to pay $25 per quarter, where I deliver three sermons 
on Sunday. But I have some hopes of finding ere long a cheaper place, 





\ 


1839. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 301 


where I may also preach during the week. Living, too, is very expensive 
here, but I shall be as economical as possible. 

‘Since | have offered my services to the Church as a missionary, I 
have often been solemnly impressed, especially when meditating on the 
importance of my position and the trials I must pass through. It is true, 
every laborer in the Lord’s vineyard has his share of difficulties and suffer- 
ings ; yet there is a great difference between being almost alone, and living 
in a place where the children of God encourage and comfort one another. 
But I hope to God, that out of the great number of Germans in this great 
city, many will be awakened, enlightened, and converted to God. For this 
I labor, hoping the Lord will bless my efforts, in answer to the prayers of 
his children. J would ask a special interest in their prayers, when they 
meet to pray for the cause of missions.” JACOB BoRKERT. 

New York, June 14, 1839. 

This mission had to contend with great difficulties, and at first made 
slow progress. During the first year there was no effort made to organize 
a society. In the second year a class consisting of 12 members was formed, 
which increased considerably in the third year. During the first three years 
it seemed sometimes as if the mission would fail and have to be abandoned ; 
but toward the close of the third year, it gained a firmer footing, and the 
prospects became brighter.* 


§ 205. Organization of Missionary Auxiliaries. 


The glorious success of the first missions of the Association had a 
most salutary effect upon the whole membership ; the auxiliaries increased, 
and by and by a large number of missions were established, and these 
efforts were crowned with blessed results. Although a financial crisis pre- 
vailed during the years 1837-1841 the missionary spirit overcame this 
difficulty. As an instance showing how auxiliaries were formed and funds 
raised for missionary work, we here briefly describe the organization of an 
auxiliary on Milford circuit, in the East Pa. Conference. 

On Sunday the 14th of September, 1839, a missionary meeting was 
held in the large barn of Jeremiah Yeakel—there being no Church edifice 
in that neighborhood. The meeting was attended by the members of the 
neighboring classes in large numbers. The preacher in charge, William 
Heim, preached an appropriate sermon, and then an organization of an 
auxiliary was effected in the simplest manner. 

When the subscriptions of missionary money were made, all wanted to 
do their part. Jeremiah Yeakel subscribed $30, another $20, several $10 
and $5.00, and then followed the mites of the poorer from a dollar down to 
five cents. Even the children wanted to participate. A certain father 


*) With regard to the splendid success of the missions in Canada, see the section, 
The Evangelical Association in Canada. 


302 HISTORY OF THE [1839. 


signed $5.00 for himself and family and told the children if they subscribed 
also they would have to pay it themselves, But how ?—this was the great 
problem for these youths. As already stated, financial distress prevailed. 
The markets were far away, and in that remote section of country there 
was scant opportunity for boys and girls to earn any money. What now? 
Why, one boy who had subscribed 25 cents succeeded in gathering chestnuts 
and selling them until he could pay the amount and had something left. 
A little girl told her mother she would abstain from eating butter for some 
time until she would have ‘“ earned” her missionary money in this manner. 
Others saved their missionary money by getting less clothing. The spirit 
of invention was awakened, and the truth of the saying was realized. 
‘Where there is a will there is also a way.” The amount subscribed was 
$160—and that was also paid in full, The amounts “secured” by sub- 
scriptions in those days were really secured. If such missionary zeal 
were continually prevalent among us, we should know nothing of mission- 
ary debts, and have much less of luxurious and foolishly fashionable 
living ! 

The missionary auxiliaries were intended not only to collect funds 
for the support of the mission-work, but also to pray for God’s blessing 
upon the labors of the missionaries, remembering the urgent request made 
by St. Paul: “ Brethren, pray for us, that the Word of the Lord may have 
free course, and be glorified.” For this reason a clause was introduced 
into the constitutions of the auxiliaries, that a monthly missionary prayer- 
meeting shall be held, which was also faithfully observed. Usually the 
president of the auxiliary led this meeting. Thousands of fervent prayers 
were sent up to the throne of grace for divine blessings upon the labors of 
the missionaries, and the answers came in accordance with the divine 
promises, for such intercessions are “ good and acceptable in the sight of 
God our Saviour, who will have all men to be saved, and come to a know- 
ledge of the truth.” And if the work of missions is to accomplish its noble 
end, then giving and praying must go together, The missionary angel 
must have these two wings, in order to bring the everlasting Gospel to all 
nations |! 


§ 206. Further Extension of the Work. 


There are no records extant of special revivals at this time; yet the 
work made progress at Philadelphia, Reading and Pottsville, especially at 
the latter place. In the Counties of Bucks and Montgomery more hearts 
and doors were opened for the pure doctrines of the Gospel, and the society 
in Upper Milford was in a very flourishing condition. At Orwigsburg a 
new church was built during this year; it was dedicated in January, 1840, 
and a glorious revival followed ; about 20 persons were translated into the 
glorious liberty of the children of God. 

Bro. Daniel N. Long traveled on the Indiana circuit—now in the 





1839. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 303 


Pittsburg Conference—and was successful in forming five new classes. A 
highly blessed camp-meeting was held in Brush Valley, Indiana County, 
Pa., on the farm of John Qberdorf, which resulted in the conversion of 
about fifty persons, among whom was Bro. Joseph Truby, who afterwards 
became a successful itinerant preacher until his decease, April 25th, 1856. 
Bro. Long held a protracted meeting at the house of Jacob Miller, at which 
a powerful awakening occurred. A woman was present who was deeply 
convicted by the preached word and attempted to run away from the 
meeting, but the power of God overwhelmed her so that she speedily yielded 
to the Lord and was soundly converted. During the meeting, Bro. Long 
publicly requested a man named Daniel Oberdorf to give himself immedi- 
ately to God, which he then did. Another man named Sauer stepped 
forward, took off his coat, fell upon his knees and cried unto God until he 
was saved. The man who had opened his house for the meeting was also 
converted, as was also his wife. 

The preachers of the Ev. Association had already commenced to preach 
in this valley in the year 1822, in the homes of Nicholas Enders and George 
Baumeister who had removed thither from Virginia. Jacob Baumgartner 
and Joseph Long were the first preachers of the Association in that part of 
the country and formed a class of seven members in that year. Subse- 
quently a number of families removed thither from York County, Pa., 
named Oberdorf, Miller and Frey, and in 1832 the first camp-meeting was 
held there, attended with others, by John Seybert, Charles Hesser and 
Jacob Boas. Many persons were converted in that valley, but by immi- 
gration and other causes many were again lost. 

Miami circuit of the Western Conference, embracing part of the State 
of Indiana, extended considerably during this year, as far as the center of 
that State, and had a eonsiderable addition of members and classes. Bro. 
Absalom B. Schaefer writes in his report of the beginning and progress of 
our work in the State of Indiana this year, as follows :— 

“The work of conversion made but slow progress on this field of labor, 
till several families from Pennsylvania settled here, who, by their deep 
interest and exemplary lives, confirmed the truth of the word preached, and 
thus gave the cause a new impulse.” 

The societies of the Evangelical Association in the State of New York 
and Ohio had been founded mainly by emigrants from the State of Penn- 
sylvania; this was also the case in the States of Indiana, Illinois, and the 
western States and territories generally, where our societies were for the 
most part, and in some places exclusively, founded and sustained by Penn- 
sylvanians ; while those societies in which the European element predom- 
inates, were formed out of converts, generally made during revivals. The 
West is, therefore, under great obligations to the Hast ; and the East ought, 
for the same reasons, to continue to take the deepest interest in the pros- 
perity of the West. 


304 HISTORY OF THE [1839. 


This year the infant societies in the State of Hlinois had to pass 
through another sore trial ; for their preacher, Lewis Hinsel, soon after his 
arrival among them, was attacked with a fever, which disabled him for the 
greater part of the year, so that he could preach but little) He had made 
a good beginning among them, and had raised the brightest expectations. 
One of his first official acts in Illinois was the dedication of the lately 
completed small church, which was the first of our connection in the far 
West, on June 20th, 1839. Soon after he visited Sharon, in Henry County, 
Rock Island, and the vicinity of Cedarville in Stephenson County, and 
preached there. He had also preached a few sermons in Chicago, and took 
it up as one of his regular preaching places. But on his return from 
Stephenson County to Wheeling, his health succumbed to the influence of 
the new climate, and becoming very sick, it was with the greatest difficulty - 
that he reached the latter place, where he was confined to a bed of sickness 
for the greater part of the year, treated all the while with the kindest. 
attention by the friends, but especially by Bro. Esher’s family. 

Several families from Penn’s Valley, Center County, Pa., all members 
of our Church, settled in the neighborhood of Cedarville in the Spring of 
1839 ; before they set out from Pennsylvania they had been organized into 
a regular class by Bro. Seybert, and had elected a class-leader according to 
the Discipline of the Church, so that they arrived as a regular class in 
Illinois. According to the advice of Bro. Seybert, soon after their arrival 
in their new home, they introduced the order and discipline of our Church, 
sustaining them also till they received the regular services of our ministers, 
The following are the names of some of the heads of said families: Hpley, 
Falget, Sill, Warrig, ete. Thus not only individual members, but whole 
classes of our Church emigrated to the far West, as Illinois was then called. 
In this manner the Hast subsequently lost many members every year, while 
the membership in the West increased the more rapidly. 

In the beginning of December of this year, Bro. John Lutz was 
appointed to assist Bro. Hinsel, or rather to take his place, as he was still 
sick. He arrived at Wheeling, and soon after set out for Naperville, 
accompanied by Bro. John J. Esher, who was then layman yet. The dis- 
tance between the two places being thirty miles, and the way over trackless 
prairies, a guide was absolutely necessary for strangers, in order to find 
the place. A deep snow was lying on the ground, with an icy crust, so 
that traveling on the unbeaten path was extremely difficult, and they did 
not arrive at their destined place until midnight, almost entirely exhausted 
and benumbed, as it was extremely cold. They were very kindly received 
by Bro. C. Gross, and soon recovered under his hospitable roof. 

Bro. Lutz labored with great success at Wheeling and Naperville dur- 
ing that Winter, also in Stephenson County. In the latter place, near 
where Cedarville now is, his labors were blessed with a glorious revival in 
the month of February, the first important instance of the kind by the 





1839. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 305 


instrumentality of our preachers in Illinois. The class of emigrants was 
thereby considerably increased and greatly encouraged. Bro. Lutz also 
undertook an exploring tour to Milwaukee and vicinity in the territory of 
Wisconsin, and met with many Germans who received him kindly. While 
Bro. Lutz was thus acting the part of a bold pioneer, preaching the word 
of life to the inhabitants of the impervious north-western counties, Bro. 
Hinsel labored as much as his enfeebled state of health permitted, 
along Des Plaines and at Naperville, and God’s blessings rested upon his 
labors. 

In the beginning of May, 1840, the two brethren returned together 
across the lakes to Ohio, in order to attend the session of the Ohio Confer- 
ence ; they reported 18 newly received members, and a membership of 93 
on the circuit. Although, as a matter of course, the work did not, under 
existing circumstances, progress rapidly, yet it gradually gained strength 
and influence ; and had the infant societies and the other preaching places 
been regularly attended from the beginning, the work would undoubtedly 
have increased much more rapidly. But small as it then was tares were 
already making their appearance among the wheat. At Naperville appeared 
premonitory symptoms of a bad movement, which afterward resulted in ill 
feelings and divisions, to the great grief of the children of God and the 
injury of His work. 

But while this fatal leaven was at work, an occurrence of the most 
pleasing character took place in another place of the circuit, at Dutchman’s 
Point. While the preachers were at Conference, the class-leader of the 
Des Plaines society, moved by the Spirit, visited said place on a Sunday, 
where there had indeed been preaching, but no conversions had as yet taken 
place, in order to hold the first prayer-meeting with the people. The grace 
and power of God manifested themselves to such a degree during this 
meeting, that some persons were deeply affected and called upon God for 
mercy, till they had obtained peace and pardon. The work of grace began 
in this prayer-meeting, extended farther and farther, till all the Germans of 
the neighborhood came under its influence and professed to have found 
peace with God. This was the first revival in Illinois, in a country where 
there had been no members of the Society before, and the new class that 
was formed, consequently consisted altogether of new converts, and after- 
ward prospered remarkably well. 


§ 207. Biographical Sketches. 


During this year there were four watchmen called from the walls of 
Zion, viz., Samuel Van Gunten and George Dressel, itinerant, and Father 
John Hammer and Henry Miesse, local preachers. Ali of them had been 
esteemed, pious, and useful members of the Church, and three of them as 
yet in the prime of life. 


306 HISTORY OF THE (1839. 


Samuel Van Gunten was an excellent, promising young man, a highly 
gifted preacher, of a noble, prepossessing appearance and genuine piety, 
for which reasons he was universally esteemed and beloved. In 1834 he 
was received by the Western Conference into the itinerancy, and became 
the assistant of Bro. Charles Hammer on Canton circuit; the following 
year he was John J. Kopp’s colleague on Mansfield circuit. In the Spring 
of 1834 he was ordained deacon and appointed preacher in charge of Lan- 
caster circuit, William Bergheimer being his colleague. The following year 
he was stationed for the second time on Canton circuit, and Henry Heiss 
became his colleague. In 1838 he was ordained elder and became the 
preacher in charge of Columbiana circuit, H. D. Grunder being his assistant. 


In the Spring of 1839, in March, he attended the General Conference in . 


Center Co., Pa. 

Shortly before this Conference had stationed him alone on Harmony 
circuit, in the western part of Pennsylvania: but soon after his return from 
General Conference, he was attacked by bilious fever and died after an 
illness of three weeks, on the 26th of April, in the 27th year of his life. He 
had to pass through some severe struggles on his death-bed, but finally died 
in the triumphs of Christian faith, and entered into the joy of his Master. 
Nothing is known of extraordinary revivals brought about by the instru- 
mentality of this brother; but as he was conscientious and scrupulous in 
the discharge of his duties, thers is no doubt that many were instructed and 
edified by his short ministry of five years. He was, as already stated, 
universally beloved, and had prospects of great usefulness before him ; the 
Church lamented his death as that of one of its most talented and promis- 
ing men. ) 
After 8S. Van Gunten’s death, George Dressel, who was then the super- 

intending preacher on Canton circuit, was appointed as his successor, till 
another preacher could be obtained for the place, or different arrangements 
be made. But shortly after his arrival he was seized with the same fever 
that had finished Van Gunten’s career, and died of it after a protracted 
illness of a few weeks, on the 27th of June, 1839, in his 30th year. Bro. 
Dressel] is likewise said to have been a very talented and apparently still 
more promising man than Bro. Van Gunten. He had lived in a state of 
grace for about five years, and served as an itinerant for sixteen months, 
when he was already called to those regions whence no traveler returns. 
He was in great peace on his death-bed, and died in a firm hope of ever- 
lasting life. 

The loss of these two promising young men, whose deaths were an- 
nounced in the Paper, filled all that had been acquainted with them, with 
grief, and cast a universal gloom over the Church. 

Some were of opinion, that they had not received proper medical treat- 
ment; but this cannot with certainty be proved. Even granted, that many 
“man’s life has been shortened by improper medical treatment; yet the 


1839. | EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION, 307 


deaths of the two brethren in question may have been the work of 
Providence, for holy and wise purposes, which eternity alone will dis- 
close. 

Father John Hammer, of Orwigsburg, Pa., died also this year, on the 
6th of November, in the 67th year of his age. He had been one of the 
pillars of the Orwigsburg society, and did much to build it up. Many of 
the itinerants had become acquainted with him, and found a pleasant home 
under his hospitable roof. Till the 50th year of his life he had been a 
respectable member and for a long time an elder in the Lutheran Church, 
yet without having experienced a thorough change of heart. But when 
the great revival, of whieh mention has been made, broke out at Orwigsburg 
and vicinity, about sixteen years before his death, he and his whole family 
learned to see that a mere profession and form of Christianity are not 
sufficient for salvation ; aud he therefore at once commenced to pray with 
more fervency, and some time after, believing in the Son of God, he obtained 
the pardon of his sins and perfect peace of mind. He then joined the 
Evangelical Church and remained a consistent member till death. He 
served for some time as class-leader, discharging his duties faithfully and 
conscientiously, and in every respect he set an example worthy of imitation 
to those entrusted to his care. Subsequently he was licensed to preach, 
and served as a local preacher the remainder of his life. In his sermons 
he did not aim at systematic exposition, but generally gave utterance to 
those thoughts that filled his bosom, in demonstration of the Spirit and 
power, feeling deeply his responsibility, and manifesting a heart-felt con- 
cern for the salvation of his hearers. 

He was always ready to assist his neighbors by word and deed, and 
took the deepest interest in the universal welfare of the human family. 
The scorn and contempt of the world and enemies of Christ, of which he 
as a follower of the Lord also received his share, he bore with exemplary 
courage, counting it an honor to be deemed worthy to suffer for Christ’s 
sake. But God also granted him the pleasure to witness the conversion of 
many of his neighbors and of his whole family—of his wife and eleven 
surviving children. His faith in this respect had been so strong, that he 
had often said with positive assurance: “ My children will all yet turn to 
God!” ! 

For the last six years of his life he suffered from arthritis, to which 
- came, about four weeks before his death, an inflammation of the liver, 
which accelerated his death. He bore his sickness and pain with Christian 
fortitude and perfect submission to the will of his Heavenly Father. Death, 
grave, and corruption, had no terrors tohim. Once he said: * Why should 
I be afraid of the grave ; has not my Lord and Master sanctified it?” At 
another time he said: “It is my desire to have no will of my own, but to 
be fully resigned to the will of God.” Again he said: “I am about to set 
out on a long journey to a great city that is as yet unknown to me; but I 


308 HISTORY OF THE [1840. 


know the Lord of this city, whereof my heart is glad. I also have good 
fellow-travelers, who know the road well and will conduct me in safety 
thither!” And again he said: “As soon as [ arrive there, [ shall, first of 
all, prostrate myself before the throne of the Almighty, to thank him for 
what he has done for me!”’ While he lay on his death-bed, his pale lips 
whispered many a word of affecting exhortation, that caused his visitors to 
sigh, and at times to weep bitterly. Thus he was a blessing to humanity 
while living, and now his memory will not be less a blessing to those who 
were acquainted with him, and follow his pious advice and example. 

Bro. Henry Miesse, son of Jacob Miesse, formerly of Berks County, 
Pa., departed this life in Fairfield County, Ohio, in the house of his brother, 
Dr.G. Miesse, on the 20th of January, 1840, in the thirty-first year of his 


earthly career. About ten years before his death he embraced religion, 


and joined the Evangelical Association, remaining a consistent member till 
death. He was for some time a local preacher, but could not preach much 
on account of his bodily weakness. From his youth he was subject to 
great sufferings, caused by a scrofulous disease, and but rarely enjoyed 
good health. Subsequently he was taken with pulmonary consumption 
and a violent inflammation of the tonsils, which closed his earthly career. 
He was fully resigned, and died in the triumphs of faith. His brother, Dr. 
Miesse, writes about him as follows: “For him we ought not to mourn, 
because his departure from this world was attended with joy and great 
faith; he left us many very beautiful and consoling exhortations, 
and testified even in the struggle of death, that it is good to die a 
Christian.” 


§ 208. Three Conference Sessions in 1840. 


In this year there were for the first time three annual Conference ses- 
sions held, viz: The Hast Pennsylvania at Schuylkill Haven, Pa., beginning 
March 25th ; the West Pennsylvania in New Berlin, Pa., April 8th; and 
the Ohio in Walnut Township, Pickaway County, Ohio, April 13th. 

As usual a number of preachers located, some on account of failing 
health and others to provide for their families. But quite a number of 
young men applied for reception into the itinerancy. The East Pa. Con- 
ference had a surplus of preachers, and the Ohio Conference was also well 
supplied, but the West Pennsylvania Conference experienced a great lack 
in this respect. Quite a number of their preachers located during the year 
and several entered the Hast Pa. and Ohio Conferences. For this reason 
the fields of labor in the West Pa, Conference were but feebly supplied. 
Many “double-handed ” circuits received but one preacher. Conference 
therefore requested the friends to exercise patience and also earnestly to 
call upon God to send laborers into His vineyard. She also appointed a day 
of fasting and prayer, and requested all the preachers and members in the 
Conference district to observe it punctually, and make special requests to 


1840. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 309 


God for his blessing upon the preached word and the spread of his King- 
dom,* and also ordered that a pastoral letter to the societies in the Con- 
ference district be written by a committee and published in the 
“Christliche Botschafter,’ which had a very favorable effect. With 
reference to the day of fasting and prayer, Bro. Henry Bucks, presiding 
elder of Carmel district, wrote as follows: ‘‘ We have the cheering prospect 
that our district will furnish several laborers for the vineyard of the Lord 
this year. Our day of fasting and prayer July 4th, contributed its share 
toward this happy result. It is my sincere desire that it may become 
customary with us annually to appoint such a day.’ 

From this time forth the West Pennsylvania Conference made very 
good progress, and in a few years later it had quite outstripped the other 
two Conferences with regard to the number of members. 


§ 209. Vigorous Progress of the Work. 


The Conferences made more rapid progress at this time than ever be- 
fore ; it almost seemed as though they were vying with each other in 
promoting the work. The number of itinerants increased largely every 
year and the boundaries of the Conferences were extended in many direc- 
tions. The newly awakened missionary spirit gave a powerful impetus to 
the work, promoting the more rapid spread and influence of the Association. 
Bro. George Brickley, in a report from his district, writes in regard to the 
salutary influence of this missionary spirit on the Church as follows: “I 
believe that the cause of missions in our Connection is a powerful help to 
promote the interests of the Kingdom of God, and I have not the least 
doubt that if our ministers had introduced this sacred cause at an earlier 
date, the Church would have increased much more rapidly. But we greatly 
rejoice that the cause is now advancing, and we believe that God will 
prosper it to his honor and glory. O ye friends of Zion, let us have faith 
and take courage to labor for the glory of God—yea, let us not be weary 
in well doing, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not.” 

Such was the general feeling of the ministry in those days with regard 
to the cause of missions. Bro, Henry Bucks said in a report from his 
district : “At every camp-meeting a missionary sermon was preached which 
was always attended with good success ; at two of them we gave an oppor- 
tunity to subscribe, and, although money was very scarce, yet large amounts 
were subscribed ; a part was also paid at once. May the Lord bless this 
good cause to the salvation of many yet sitting in darkness and the shadow 
of death !” 

Bro. Absalom B. Schaefer in a report from Lancaster circuit, Ohio 
Conference, wrote thus: “The cause of missions is progressing finely * * 


*) The fourth of July was appointed as such a day of fasting and prayer—which 
was certainly remarkable. 


| t) This might be worthy of imitation also at the present time. 


310 AIISTORY OF THE [1840, 


auxiliaries increase. Many friends speak favorably ofthe matter, and more 
will come to the help of the cause with their abundance of means” These 
auxiliaries belonged as yet to the General Missionary Society of the Church 
until the following session of the Ohio Conference when a Conference Mis- 
sionary Society was organized with which these auxiliaries were then 
united. 

Similar reports, speaking of the zeal of the members in this cause, were 
received from many directions. In but few places it met with opposition, 
arising from a lack of proper knowledge concerning its scope and object. 

The first report of the Missionary Society presented at its annual 
meeting on the 21st of April, 1840, in New Berlin, Pa., will still more fully 
portray the state of this work at that time. 


“ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MISSIONARY SOCIETY OF THE EVANGELICAL 
ASSOCIATION.” 


“With great joy and sincere gratitude to God, our Heavenly Father, 
we lay before our friends, the first annual report of the Missionary 
Society. 

“Our hearts overflow with praise and gratitude to God, for having 
accepted our humble efforts, and crowned them with success beyond our 
most sanguine expectations. We would, therefore, call upon the friends of 
Zion, to join us in praising the Lord, ‘ for he has done excellent things ; let 
this be known in all the earth.’ He has not despised our insignificance, 
nor rejected our enterprise in the cause of missions ; to His name be all the 
glory ! 

“But one year has elapsed since the formation of our Missionary 
Society, and small as its beginning was, it soon found many warm friends, 
advocates and supporters. The receipts of the Society amount to $1434.31, 
including the $500 which the Conference Missionary Society, that had been 
formed a year earlier, paid over into the parent board’s treasury. The 
expenditures of the Society during the last year, we cannot exactly state, 
not having as yet received a full report thereof; but this much we know, 
that our treasury will be nearly, if not altogether empty, at the close of 
the vear. 

“The number of branch and auxiliary societies of the parent board, as 
far as we have been able to learn, is already over 30; and we have learned 
with pleasure, that many of our friends in various places are only waiting 
for an opportunity, to form themselves into auxiliary societies. 

“The Society has not only found many warm friends and supporters, 
but God’s blessings also have rested on the labors of its missionaries, of 
whom it employed four during the first year, all of whom labored on different 
fields and met with more or less success, 

“ Bro. Borkert labored in the city of New York, and has been sent there 
again for this year. It is true, his labors did not meet with as much suc- 


1840.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIA TION. 311 


cess as might have been desired, and as many of the friends undoubtedly 
expected ; yet it would seem, that his labors were not entirely lost, and we 
humbly trust the Lord will yet gather out of the Germans there a people 
unto Himself, zealous of good works. 

“Qn Mohawk mission, in the State of New York, God has done great 
things in the awakening and conversion of many precious souls. The 
mission has already been formed into a circuit, and has received two 
preachers. 

“ Black Creek mission in Upper Canada, has also succeeded remarkably 
well, and has likewise been formed into a circuit, and supplied with two 
preachers. The membership, most of whom were converted during the last 
year, is already over eighty persons, and the prospects for the future are 
very favorable. 

“ Waterloo mission, in Canada, has also been owned and blessed of the 
Lord ; sinners have been awakened and converted, and a small society 
of about 30 members has been organized. According to Bro. Holl’s report, 
the prospects for the future are very encouraging there also. 

“The whole membership of the four missions is 166, 125 of whom are 
reported as having been converted during the last year. Truly, the Lord 
has done great things for us, whereof we are glad! Two of these missions 
of last year having been changed into circuits, there remain but two; but 
a new mission has been established this year in the city of Baltimore, Md. 
It is highly probable that the brethren of Ohio Conference will likewise 
send out some missionaries among the many Germans of the West, who are 
like sheep without a shepherd. 

“ Having such evidence of God’s approbation, and the prospects of 
future success being so brilliant, we feel encouraged, and are resolved to 
continue the work in the name and to the honor and glory of God. 
We also call on all friends of Christ to take a deep interest in this glorious 
enterprise, and to support it with their prayers; for we are fully per- 
suaded that without the blessing of God all our labors and efforts will be 
in vain. 

“ We close our first annual report with the deepest gratitude to God, 
the giver of every blessing ; leaving our cause with Him, and confiding in 
His promises for all time to come. 

W. W. Orwia, Corresponding Secretary.” 

Ohio Conference, as had been expected, also established a mission, at 
its session in May following, partly in the State of Illinois, partly in the 
Territory of Wisconsin, appointing Bro. John Lutz their missionary. Thus 
the Connection had four missions again this year. The mission in the city 
of New York made but slow progress, as before stated ; but Waterloo mis- 
sion, in Canada, was crowned with gloriousresults. At the close of the year, 
the latter numbered 96 members, 71 of whom had been received during the 
year, 


312 FISTORY VOR Wiel {1840, 


Classes had been formed in Waterloo, Puslinch and Wilmot, and preach- 
ing places had been taken up in various other places, which were highly 
promising. When Bro. Joseph Harlacher, the missionary, wrote his fourth 
and last quarterly report of the mission, he was almost in a state of ecstasy, 
on account of what the Lord had done through him. Among other things 
he makes the following remarks: “I feel to call upon all my brethren and 
sisters, to praise the Lord with me, and to exalt together His holy name. 
Yea, ‘let everything that hath breath, praise the Lord ;’ for He has done 
wondrous things.” 


§ 210. The First Mission in Baltimore, Maryland. 


The first mission in Baltimore, Maryland, served by Bro. Jacob Boas, 
began on a very small scale, and although it soon found friends and patrons, 
there were not wanting those who were displeased with and persecuted it. 
In the second quarter, a small class was formed, and regular prayer and 
class meetings were introduced. Bro. Boas rented a small church from the 
Methodists, on corner of Cove and Fayette streets, where he preached twice 
every Sunday, but to very small audiences. In the third quarter, matters 
took a more favorable turn—the church became crowded, conversions took 
place, and a considerable number of the members of Otterbein’s Church 
there, seceded for certain reasons, and joined the small mission society ; in 
this way the number of members rose.already to 100, but was afterward 
more than doubled during the conference year. The little church was 
bought during the third quarter, but was soon too small, and even before 
the close of the first year, arrangements were made to build a new and 
spacious church in a more convenient part of the city. Those from Otter- 
bein’s Church, had been, to a great extent, members of the best standing 
and greatest influence in that society ; and the work of grace in the mission 
society seems to have been genuine, and thus the society had a solid foun- 
dation. Bishop Seybert, who visited the mission at that time, expressed 
himself in a letter as follows :— 

“On Friday, the 5th of February, 1841, I arrived at Baltimore in the 
evening, and found the brethren engaged in holding a love-feast, during a 
protracted meeting that had already been in progress for ten days. The 
friends spoke with great freedom of what the Lord had done for them. 
There were also a number of convicted and penitent souls in the meeting, 
who, without waiting for much entreaty, followed the invitation of Bro. 
Hesser, who attended the meeting, to come forward to the altar to pray for 
mercy and the pardon of their sins. Thus we had a happy waiting before 
the Lord, while the mourners obtained peace and pardon, and were enabled, 
with others, to shout and praise the Lord, 

“T remained at Baltimore till the 11th, during which time we had 
affecting meetings, and several souls were made happy in the pardon of 
their sins. I was told that about sixty souls had been converted during 





1840. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIA TION. 313 


this meeting, among whom there are members of different religious denom- 
inations, also a few Catholics. The society already consists of more than 
150 members, and is divided into seven classes. The lately purchased 
church—30 by 35 feet—is already too small to contain all those who desire 
to attend ; it is therefore proposed to build a new and larger church in a 
more central part of the city, if practicable. 

“ With one trait of the public services I was especially pleased during 
my stay at Baltimore, which is, that our friends there are lively in their 
services, and you do not see sour faces and knit brows when any of God’s 
children praise Him aloud and shout for joy, under the influence 
of God’s Holy Spirit. I also observed, that the new converts were willing 
to lay aside all gorgeous attire—another trait which I was highly delighted 
with. 

“Q ye friends of Zion, who have thrown your mites into the missionary 
treasury, behold how richly God has blessed your gifts—praise the Lord 
for it.” 

As this was one of the most successful and prosperous missions ever 
established by the Association, we lay the last quarterly report of Bro. Boas 
in full before our readers, hoping that it will be encouraging and instructive 
to them. 

‘“ Brethren :-—It is difficult to find words in the human language, that 
will adequately set forth what the Lord has done in our midst, yea, lan- 
guage is altogether insufficient to express it properly. The amount of 
good that has been accomplished by the grace of God among the Germans 
of this city, will become fully known only before the throne of God; yes, 
only there will he be perfectly happy, who here has supported the cause of 
missions by his prayers and gifts. The Lord has richly, yea abundantly re- 
warded our efforts in this good cause. And who should not feel encouraged 
thereby, to continue in the support of so holy and blessed a cause ? About 
one hundred souls have learned to know the Saviour as willing and able to 
save from sin, and with the Psalmist can now, with hearts full of heavenly 
joy, call on all that fear God, to come and hear from their lips what the 
Lord has done for their souls. 

“Since last New Year, some have been willing to pray for pardon after 
almost every sermon, and every invitation to come to the altar of prayer, 
has been accepted by some. Here they waited for the Lord, and he inclined 
unto them, and heard their cries; he brought them out of the horrible pit, 
out of the miry clay, and set their feet upon a rock, and established their 
goings ; and he put a new song in their mouths, even praises unto our God. 
Psalm 40, 

“ When I arrived here as missionary, we had but two members ; now 
we have two hundred and fifteen. Many, O Lord, my God! are thy thoughts 
which are to usward ; they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee; if 
we would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered. 


314 HISTORY OF THE [1840. 


“We aiso met with opposition from various directions ; but in every 
instance the Lord frustrated the designs of His enemies, and granted us 
glorious victories. We will wait for the Lord in prayer, in the firm assur- 
ance that he will continue to prosper the good work begun on this mission, 
till many—very many will yet say to their acquaintances, friends and 
relatives, as Moses said to Hobab, the son of Reguel, the Midianite, his 
father-in-law : ‘We are journeying unto the place of which the Lord said, 
I will give it to you ; come thou with us, and we will do thee good ; for 
the Lord has spoken good concerning Israel.’ 

“As our present church, under existing circumstances, is entirely too 
small, we were compelled to make arrangements to build a new one; it is 
to be plain, substantial and spacious, and with a grave yard which contains 
about two acres of ground, will cost about $7000. But in order to meet. 
these outlays, we shall be obliged to call upon our liberal friends in the 
country for help. We cherish the hope, that all of our friends who take a 
heart-felt interest in the work of God, will contribute something of their 
abundance toward this object. We must have a large house, if the work of 
God shall continue to prosper. I merely intended to touch upon this 
subject, as it will probably be laid fully before the Association in the 
columns of the Christliche Botschafter. JI greet all the friends, and 
would entreat them to remember me and the Baltimore Mission in their 
prayers. JACOB Boas. 

April 13, 1841.” 


As the society in Baltimore was engaged in building a new church, 
and had many other heavy expenses, it was thought best to con- 
tinue it as a mission for another year; after this it was changed into a 
station, supporting its own minister. 


§ 211. More Victories, 


The Illinois mission, that was located partly in the neighborhood of 
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, partly along Cedar creek, in Stephenson County, 
Illinois, was very inconveniently situated, the missionary having to travel 
on every round about 250 miles in order to fill six or eight appointments, and 
to re-cross a distance of 90 miles, besides often being exposed to great priva- 
tions. Bro, John Lutz labored on this mission this year with truly apostolic 
self-denial. At the close of the year he formed a small class in Wisconsin, 
in the vicinity of Milwaukee, the members of which were scattered in every 
direction, about twenty miles in circumference, to the north, south and 
west of Milwaukee. This was the first society of the Evangelical Associa- 
tion in Wisconsin. John G. Esslinger (class-leader), his wife, the first 
person converted in Wisconsin through the instrumentality of our preachers, 
Jacob Martin and wife, the Eckert family, Martin Schulz and others, were 
its first members. 


1840. | EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 315 


In the East Pennsylvania Conference the work spread considerably in 
some places, especially in the State of New York and in Upper Canada. 
This year the northern district numbered more newly received members 
than the two other districts of the conference together. The work had 
prospered there for several years previous to this. John M. Sindlinger 
labored then on the district with great success. Filled with great zeal to 
extend and enlarge its boundaries, he pushed forward with his preachers 
wherever there was an opening for the Word, taking great pains at the same 
time to advance the existing societies n piety and true godliness. On 
Mohawk circuit, under the charge of Christian Hummel and George Ramige, 
important awakenings took place in different parts, and the number of newly 
received members during the year was 124. On Lake circuit also, where 
Michael Lehn and David Fisher labored, the work prospered exceedingly in 
some places, 

The society in the city of Buffalo, under the charge of Frederick 
Krecker, was visited with some glorious revivals during this and the fol- 
lowing year, thus gaining a solid footing. Likewise Buffalo circuit, under 
the charge of Philip Schwille, during this and the preceding year, extended 
considerably, and thus rose in influence. In North Bush a glorious work 
took place; H. Knob and P. Trautman were the first there who opened 
their houses to our preachers, and soon after gave their hearts to God. 
Father G. Scheuer and others soon followed, and thus a class of seventeen 
members was formed there in a short time. P. Trautman was the first 
class-leader in that part of country. 

This year the brethren also commenced to labor in the city of Roches- 
ter, N. Y. Bro. Samuel Muck made the beginning, and afterward the 
brethren on Lake circuit took up the city as one of their regular preaching 
places, and preached there as often as they possibly could, without neg- 
lecting the other parts of their very extensive field of labor. At first they 
preached in a private house, afterward in a school-house; and when this 
was denied them, they preached again in a private house. January 10, 
1841, a small class was formed there, who elected Bro. Voos as their leader. 
But the good cause had to pass through great difficulties, and made but 
slow progress. In 1842, the society built a small church; but not being 
able to keep it, they had to submit to its being sold. This was a heavy 
blow which almost annihilated the work commenced ; but by and by it 
recovered, a better church was built, and the society afterward enjoyed 
a prosperous condition. Simultaneously with the first efforts made by the 
brethren in Rochester, they found entrance in Fairport, six or eight 
miles east of Rochester, where subsequently a flourishing society was 
organized. 

Glorious revivals took place during this year at Orwigsburg, Schuyikiil 
Haven and Pottsville, whereby these societies were considerably increased. 


During a protracted meeting at Lebanon, 50 souls were said to have found 
21 


216 HISTORY OF THE [1840. 


pardon and peace. In Adamstown, Lancaster County, where the preachers 
had labored for several years, a glorious work of grace broke out during 
this conference year, which continued the whole of the following year. 
William Heim and John P. Kraemer were stationed there this year, and 
Henry Fischer and Christian Holl the next year. The society of Manheim 
was also blessed with a revival, and received a considerable addition during 
the year. 

Philadelphia station had to pass through a severe trial this year, Jacob 
Vogelbach, who had labored there already the year before with apparently 
good success, disagreed with the society in the very beginning of this year. 
After having had a trial, he left the connection and subsequently went over 
to the Lutheran Church. This occurrence proved very disastrous to the 


society; although the popular Bro. Charles Hesser became Vogelbach’s . 
successor, yet not much could be done for the remainder of the year, and © 
it required several years to heal the wound.* The circuits of Reading, 


Milford and Lehigh, made but little progress during this year, and their 
accessions were small. 

In West Pennsylvania Conference no particular revivals occurred dur- 
ing this year, except in Baltimore and on Center circuit; yet the work 
progressed more or less on all the circuits. Several of the camp-meetings 
were particularly blessed—some of them extraordinarily. One of these 
was held on the land of Abraham Orwig in Buffalo Valley, Union County, 
Pa., where a considerable number of precious souls were awakened and 
converted, and many more came to the knowledge of the truth. This meet- 
ing was greatly blessed and victorious from beginning to end. The pre- 
siding elder who superintended the meeting writes at theclose of his report 
of it: “If the appearance and professions of some who were present, are a 
correct criterion, this meeting was a great blessing to the country and the 
whole neighborhood.” 

Another meeting was held on the land of Daniel Schreffler in Penn’s 
Valley, Center County, Pa., where many sinners were convicted and con- 
verted, and at its close thirty new members were received into the church. 
Some of the new converts had already left the camp-ground, else the number 
would in all probability have been much larger. 


§ 212. A Remarkable Occurrence. 


At this place a most remarkable phenomenon occurred, which was pub- 
lished in the Paper as follows :— 
“On Sunday, the 23d of August, a remarkable phenomenon took place 


*) It is proper to remark here that no charges against Vogelbach’s character were 
preferred. He still remained friendly toward the Evangelical Association. One rea- 
son for his withdrawal was his poverty, which made it impossible for him with his small 
salary, to support both his family and his parents. 


i he 





\ 


1840.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 317 


during a violent storm, in the upper part of Penn’s Valley, Center County, 
which cannot fail to convince every one of the particular providence of Him 
who possesses all power in heaven and on earth. It was as follows: In 
the woods of Daniel Schreffler, about three miles south-east of Old Fort, a 
place had been prepared during the week for holding a camp-meeting, to 
begin on Thursday following. The preachers’ stand and several tents were 
already erected, and on the Sunday in question there was preaching on the 
camp-ground in the morning. 

“In the afternoon the friends of the vicinity, with some of their neigh- 
bors, repaired to the camp-ground for the purpose of holding a prayer- 
meeting ; while they were engaged in the first prayer, a terrible and 
devastating tornado came on, which they did not perceive until it was too 
late to make their escape out of the forest. Some, however, took refuge in 
a house close by; but others, wanting to follow, were terrified and prevented 
by the crashing and breaking of the trees, The consternation now was 
great; some screamed for fear, while others endeavored to calm them 
by holding forth the duty of trusting in God, others again shouted and 
praised God with a loud and joyful voice. But the most surprising thing 
was that the camp-ground and the meeting were not in the least injured by 
the storm ; although in every direction around the camp, trees were broken 
down by scores. On the west side, whence the storm blew, the tops of the 
fallen trees touched the camp-ground ; on the south and north sides, trees 
lay in heaps along the ground ; and on the east side, the ground was almost 
covered with trees and branches ; but not one tree on the large camp- 
ground, nor the tents, nor anything that was on the ground, was in the least 
damaged or injured. This fearful destruction of the woods around, from 
which only the camp-ground formed a providential exception, astonished all 
who saw it. Some did not credit the report till they visited the ground and 
saw the miracle for themselves. This occurrence made a deep impression 
on many of the inhabitants of the neighborhood, and was probably one of 
the main causes why so many became awakened and converted. The trees 
here were generally very tall; yet many of the tallest and thickest were 
broken off about 10 or 15 feet above the ground, while others were torn out 
by the roots.”” In another report of this event, the writer, among other 
things, says: “ There was a tree of uncommon size, measuring 18 feet in 
circumference, near the camp-ground, which, as it could not be uprooted on 
account of its deep roots, was broken off near the ground. By this, the 
uncommon violence of the tornado may be estimated.” 


§ 218. Further Reports of Victories. 


On Carmel district, situated for the most part on the Allegheny moun- 
tains, the camp-meetings were likewise victorious and crowned with con- 
versions. The presiding elder, Henry Bucks, writes thus :— 

“We had three camp-meetings in June, all of which were crowned with 


318 HISTORY OF THE (1840. 


awakenings and conversions of sinners, and glorious revivals among the 
people of God. At the last of these meetings in Brush Valley, Indiana Co., 
we had on the last day, during the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, and 
afterward at an experience meeting, glorious times ; it seemed as if heaven 
had opened over us, and the grace of God were descending upon us in 
showers so abundantly that the praise of God flowed from many lips, and 
some fell down, overcome by the love of God.” 

This year Center circuit seems to have surpassed all the other circuits 
of this Conference, in activity and increase. It held three camp-meetings ; 
one in Penn’s Valley, the other in Brush Valley, and the third in Nittany 
Valley, all of which were crowned with success, and a number of general 
and protracted meetings, some of which were remarkably victorious and 
blessed with many conversions ; two protracted meetings especially, that - 
were held in Nittany Valley, one at Jacob Best’s, the other at Jacob Waky’s, 
were times of greatrefreshing. At the close of the third quarter of the confer- 
ence year, Bro. Henry Thomas, the superintending preacher of the circuit, 
remarks in his report as follows: “On the whole, we have had during the 
year many conversions on this circuit, and many more souls are deeply 
wounded and near the kingdom of God. Let all honor and praise be 
acscribed to God alone!” 

Bishop Seybert, in a report during this year, makes the following re- 
marks touching the West Pennsylvania Conference :— 

“ Notwithstanding the great scarcity of preachers in this Conference, 
matters prosper in general, and in some parts succeed remarkably well. 
Most of the camp-meetings have been richly blessed with awakenings, con- 
versions and revivals. This shows that God is still with his people, however 
dark the prospects seemed to be. ‘Truly, God is good to Israel, even to 
such as are of a clean heart.’ I lately attended a camp-meeting in this 
Conference, which was the seventh held this year on Salem district. It was 
held on the land of J. Krebs, in Perry township, Union County, Pa.; and 
as the presiding elder was prevented from being present by sickness, the 
brethren requested me to take charge of the meeting. The Lord was in our 
midst, granting His servants grace to preach His Gospel with power. We 
also had, all the time, very orderly and attentive hearers, many of whom 
became convinced of the necessity of repentance and a change of heart. On 
Monday and Tuesday, the last two days of the meeting, the ice broke, as 
the saying is, and everything seemed to be prepared for a revival. The 
hearts of the children of God were filled with his love ; parents commenced 
to pray for their unconverted children, as the woman did, Matt. 15, 21-28, 
and others for their relatives. Hereupon such a power of repentance 
descended on the meeting, that sinners commenced crying out for mercy, 
and thus a glorious victory followed and some were filled with the Holy 
Ghost. During the last night we again had glorious times, sinners were 
converted, and the praise of God could be heard at a distance.” 


1840.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 319 


This year Ohio Conference received more new members than either of 
the two other Conferences. Its boundaries were extended in various direc- 
tions, especially toward the West, in Indiana and Illinois. Miami circuit, 
situated for the most part in the State of Indiana, was considerably 
extended and made good progress under the charge of Absalom B. 
Schaefer. 

During this year the first camp-meeting of the Association was held 
in the State of Indiana, on the land of John Dill, in Wayne County ; it was 
abundantly blessed, and thus proved a benefit to many. Bro. Schaefer 
writes of this meeting : “This was indeed a time of the Son of man. * * * 
From this time the work of conversion became more known in this part of 
the State, and found its advocates.” In the preceding year, the city of 
Dayton, Ohio, was taken up as one of the preaching places of Miami circuit, 
and at the end of this year a class of twenty-one members was formed there. 
As this circuit had become very large by the industry and activity of the 
preachers, that portion of it lying in Indiana, was formed into a mission at 
the next session of Ohio Conference, and called White Water mission, with 
two preachers stationed there ; two years after, it was made a circuit, and 
called White Water circuit. 

Dayton was now served by the preachers of Miami circuit, until 1843 ; 
it was then made a mission, and a small church was built and dedicated as 
early as September of the same year. From that time the work has been 
progressing finely in Dayton, yet not without manifold oppositions and trials. 
Some time after, the small church was converted into a parsonage, and a new, 
spacious, and highly respectable church erected there. 


§ 214. Beginning in Cleveland, Ohio. 


The city of Cleveland was taken up as a preaching place during this 
year (1840) by the preachers on Lake circuit, Ohio Conference. 


The Brethren Adam Stroh and John Hail traveled on Lake circuit this 
year, and in a report of their circuit, they speak of the beginning and pro- 
gress of their labors in Cleveland as follows: “ We commenced since last 
Spring, to preach in the city of Cleveland also, and in spite of the rage of 
the devil, in spite of our having been pelted with stones by his servants, 
and denounced by the priests of Babel, the Sun of righteousness begins to 
shine into many a heart. Some have already been translated into the liberty 
of God’s children, while others are almost persuaded to become Christians. 
We have a small class here, holding weekly prayer-meetings regularly, and 
we humbly trust that the Lord will also here gather himself a people zealous 
of good works.” 

Bro. Charles G. Koch communicated the following more minute report 
of the first labors of our ministers in Cleveland :— 

“It was in the year 1840, that the Schnuerer families, father and son, 


320 HISTORY OF THE (1840. 


moved from Buffalo to Cleveland, at the instance of some relatives. Hay- 
ing arrived at Cleveland, however, they felt quite forsaken, finding neither 
members of the Society, nor other believers among the Germans, with whom 
they might meet for their edification, and hence they thought at times of 
returning to Buffalo. But, while they were laying their case before God, 
seeking his guidance with earnest prayer, the now sainted Bro. Adam Stroh 
felt a strong inward desire to seek an opening somewhere in Cleveland, in 
order to preach the Gospel to its German population. Following this im- 
pulse, he rode to Cleveland, crossing its streets, when a member of the 
Schnuerer family recognized him by his simple dress and costume as an 
itinerant, and accosted him. This was a moment of mutual joy and grati- 
tude, and both parties saw in this meeting the guiding hand of Providence 
and the answer to their mutual prayers. 


“After this there was regular preaching in Cleveland during the year, 
as this appointment was then added to the circuit. The word proved 
efficacious, and as early as the first year arrangements were already made 
to build a church. A certain man, favorably disposed to the cause, granted 
them a building lot near the shore of the lake, for temporary use, without 
charge. 

“ With the aid of the friends of Lake circuit and others, a small church, 
28 by 38 feet, was erected and dedicated as early as the beginning of 
August, 1841. In the Spring of said year, Cleveland was taken up as a 
mission, and Lewis Einsel appointed its missionary. He received nine 
persons during the year into the Church, but was also obliged to expel 
several, 


“ The following two years, Bro. Henry Heiss was the missionary ; but 
the work progressed slowly, having to struggle with many difficulties. In 
1844 and 1845, Nicholas Gehr was missionary there; but the progress of 
the mission was still very slow and feeble. In the Fall of 1845, the small 
frame church was moved from the lake shore to a lot owned by the society, 
about a mile southward, at the south-western corner of Eagle and Erie 
streets; which was a real improvement, as thenceforth the number of 
hearers increased considerably, and the prospects for the future became 
better every year. Under Gehr’s administration, the Sabbath-school was 
already in a flourishing condition, and subsequently improved still more ; 
yet not without vicissitudes. But the society, in general, increased but 
slowly, and its membership remained small.” 


John J. Kopp mentions in a report of his district a large and highly 
blessed camp-meeting, held this year on Canton circuit, on the land of John 
Mattinger. It numbered 50 tents, and more than 200 communicants cele- 
brated the Lord’s supper. Matters went on very well in different parts of 
Lake circuit, as well as in various places of several of the other fields of 
labor of this Conference, in the States of Ohio and Indiana. 


1840. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 321 


§ 215. Entrance into Chicago, Ill. 


On Illinois circuit, which had seven regular preaching places and 400 
miles in circumference, the Brethren Isaac Hoffert and Daniel Kern tray- 
eled this year; they labored with a great deal of self-denial and also success ; 
for although their labors were not blessed with great awakenings, yet by 
their strictly evangelical walk and conversation, they exerted a very salu- 
tary influence upon the societies, and thus prepared the glorious success of 
the work in subsequent years. | 


They turned their special attention to Chicago, and preached there in 
private houses, in a carpenter’s shop, especially in the northern part of the 
city, called New Buffalo. About 12 or 15 persons were converted during 
the year, and the brethren formed them into the first class of the Society in 
Chicago. The Brothers Willemer, Beste, Silke, Schenk, and others, were 
the first converts. According to the census of 1840, Chicago then num- 
bered 4853 inhabitants, and being a conflux of emigrants from every 
direction, it was a very immoral place. But there being as yet no other 
services there in German than those of our preachers, they were very well 
attended, although there was preaching only every other Sunday. Our 
labors among the Germans soon attracted the attention, as well as the re- 
spect and interest of the religious portion of the English population of the 
place, and even many Germans respected our Church on account of the 
uprightness and honesty that characterized our first members of the West 
in their business transactions. But the small society had no lack of perse- 
cution, either. A great deal of reproach and slander was brought on by 
the strange phenomena, that took place at times in their meetings; as 
sinners frequently during the sermon and elsewhere fell suddenly to the 
sround as if struck dead, screaming for mercy, and then all at once leaping 
up, shouting, and praising God for the pardon of their sins. This kind of 
exercise was pretty general, both in towns and in the country of the West. 
Yet such bodily exercise is of little account, if only the heart and conduct 
are right. 

The Evangelical Association attaches no importance to these strange 
bodily exercises, and is far from recommending them ; although it has 
always been, and still is, in favor of a lively and animated service of 
God. 

As in New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and in other large cities, so 
also in Chicago many souls were converted from time to time, without, 
however, increasing our society proportionably in numbers; for many of 
the members annually moved into the country, strengthening the old socie- 
ties as well as forming even new ones there. 

In the Fall of this year, Illinois was for the first time visited by one 
of our presiding elders. Bro. John G. Zinser, whose district embraced the 
far distant West, paid the societies there this welcome visit, in the months 


322 AISTORY OP AAL [1840. 


of September and October, and assisted the brethren in holding several 
general meetings. This first visit of the presiding elder in the West im- 
parted to our work there a powerful impulse, both the preachers and the 
infant societies being encouraged thereby, and because the claims of the 
West, which were now fully understood by him, were, by an influential 
minister, laid before the Ohio Conference.* Both the Illinois circuit and 
the Illinois mission were at the close of the year in a promising condition ; 
and the brethren who labored there during the year amid many hardships 
and trials, are indeed worthy to be held in grateful remembrance, since it 
is questionable whether any of our preachers were at any time exposed to 
greater privations than they. 


§ 216. Prosperous Enterprises. 


The Publishing House was at this time in a prosperous condition. 
The demand for books, especially Sunday-school books, constantly increased 
in the Association, and the preparations made for the publication of the 
German pocket Bible, took a more favorable turn, and secured the carry- 
ing out of the enterprise. The patrons of the Paper increased likewise, 
and its sphere of action extended more and more. During this year its 
columns were especially filled with articles discussing the claims of the 
cause of missions, with missionary reports, both from home and foreign 
missions, This had a tendency.to increase the interest of the Society in 
this glorious cause, which was thereby greatly promoted. A practiced and 
influential minister remarked in this year, with reference to the Period- 
ical :— 

“The Christliche Botschafter seems to become more popular every 
day ; and there is reason to hope that the number of its subscribers and its 
sphere of usefulness will increase more and more, provided its agents and 
frends do their duty, recommending it as it deserves. It always has 
something for the heart, and is like a friend coming from a distance and 
bringing a large amount of good news, and imparting instruction on differ- 
ent subjects.” 

The cause of Sunday-schools likewise became more popular every year 
in the Association, and its glorious results began to show themselves at 
this time in the awakening and conversion of many of the scholars of our 
Sunday-schools. They were, however, not yet generally introduced, and 
there was room left for many improvements even where they existed ; and 
this, alas! is still too much the case at present. 

The membership of the Association at the close of this conference year 
was 8,992, and the increase during the year about 100. On account of the 
incomplete report of the Hast Pa. Conference for the previous year, the in- 
crease of this year cannot be stated accurately. 


*) A round on this district required a journey of two thousand miles—which Bro. 
Zinser made on horseback ! 


1840. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 323 


§ 217. Biographical Sketches. 


This year death again took its victims from the ranks of the preachers. 
Four of them fell by this “ king of terrors,” who, however, comes without 
terror to the faithful servant and child of God. Those who had finished 
their earthly career, were: Father Michael Maize, Leonard Zimmerman, 
Solomon Altimos and William Bergheimer. 

Father Michael Maize, residing two miles east of New Berlin, Union 
County, Pa., was one of the first who, west of the Susquehannah, received 
our preachers, and became a member of the Society. Its first two preachers, 
Albright and Walter, already found a home under his roof, and ever after 
his house was a pleasant home for the preachers, till his death. At first, 
he, as well as those of his neighbors who set out at that time to serve God, 
had to suffer a great deal of opposition and persecution from the world and 
the unconverted nominal Christians. But, formerly, he was hated more 
than others, on account of his zeal for the honor of God, and for his liveli- 
ness during divine service. He lived and died a worthy member of the 
Society, serving as an Officer, both as class-leader and local preacher, nearly 
the whole period of his Christian career; although he never preached a 
great deal. He also had the honor of having the first camp-meeting of the 
Association held on his land, in the month of May, 1810. After having 
served the Lord for about 35 years, he died in the 72d year of his pilgrim- 
age, on the 4th of March, 1841. Father Maize raised a numerous family, 
and most or all of his children followed the faithful example of their father, 
thus verifying the words of the wise man: ‘Train up a child in the way he 
should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” 


Leonard Zimmerman, a resident of Manheim township, Lancaster Co., 
Pa., died on the 17th of December, 1840, aged about 58 years. He was 
converted in his younger years, by means of Mr. Albright’s preaching, and 
is said to have had a very severe struggle, so much so that even Mr. Al- 
bright declared he had never seen the like before. In 1811, when the 
connection numbered but three circuits, eight itinerants, and 740 members, 
Bro. Zimmerman was received into the itinerancy and served till 1821, when 
he was obliged to locate on account of bodily infirmities. For the rest of 
his life he was an active and useful local preacher. 


Being a tall and stout man, moving and speaking slowly, somewhat bent, 
very plain in his dress, of an humble, yet fearless appearance, he filled the 
hearers with respect wherever he rose to preach. Though naturally not a 
gifted orator, yet when he became excited, his countenance brightened, his 
delivery became fluent, his voice powerful and piercing, and < great com- 
motion of the audience was the usual result. This was especially the case 
when he preached at camp or other extra meetings. Sometimes, while 
preaching, he was so filled with the power of God that he leaped, shouted, 
and praised God with a loud voice in the pulpit ; this, however, he did with 


324 HISTORY OF THE [1840. 


the greatest decorum and with good effects on the hearers. Once, it is said, 
he preached in a place where the people were very wicked, threatening to 
put down the small band of believers, and everything looked gloomy in the 
meeting. All at once, Bro. Zimmerman commenced to praise God, to shout 
and to leap ; and when he was asked how he could do so under so discour- 
aging circumstances, he replied: ‘Qh, I did it to spite the devil!” He, 
with all the first preachers of the Evangelical Association in general, had 
to suffer a great deal of persecution, scorn and contempt, for the sake of the 
truth ; but bore it all as a brave soldier of his divine Master with Christian 
(fortitude, rejoicing that he was counted worthy to suffer reproach for the 
sake of Christ. 

The first two years of his itinerancy he spent on Northumberland cir- 
cuit—the first year under John Erb, the second as the superintending . 
preacher with two preachers on trial for his colleagues ; the third year he 
traveled on York, and the fourth on Lancaster circuit ; the fifth on Schuyl- 
kill, and the sixth again on York circuit; afterward he traveled on Columbia, 
Center, Lancaster, and lastly on Franklin circuit. Bro. Zimmerman was 
sickly for a number of years, suffering at times great pains, but bore it all 
with exemplary patience. His death was sudden, caused as was supposed, 
by apoplexy. Thus this soldier of Christ finished his warfare, and entered 
into the rest and joy of his Master. 

Solomon Altimos was received in 1833 as an itinerant on trial, by the 
HKastern Conference, and stationed with Bro. Daniel Kehr on Lake circuit, 
in the State of New York. The next year he was appointed preacher in 
charge of Shenandoah circuit, in Virginia, and labored there with success, 
The third year he was preacher in charge of Indiana circuit, in Pennsylva- 
nia, and had Jacob Boas for his colleague ; the fourth year he superintended 
Armstrong circuit, which then belonged to Western Conference. But being 
subject to epileptic fits, that often caused a great deal of alarm when he 
was away from home, and increased in violence from time to time, he took 
no more appointments from the Conference, but traveled about in the coun- 
try according to his pleasure, preaching in different places with good effect. 
This he did mostly in the counties of Bucks, Lehigh, and Northampton, 
Pa., in 1837. Afterward he moved to Michigan, traveled a great deal in 
that State and the northern part of the State of Indiana, preaching often 
and forming here and there small classes, as already stated in this history. 

In 1839 he came to Pennsylvania, attended the session of General Con- 
ference in March, and laid before that body a report of his labors and the 
prospects of the north-western regions. Notwithstanding his disease 
becoming worse, he did not quit preaching, but traveled about as much as 
he possibly could. Although he was somewhat odd and singular, probably 
the consequence of his disease, he was, nevertheless, a talented and power- 
ful speaker, fearing neither the power of hell nor of the world. He attacked 
sin and vice of every shape without fear, and with great seriousness and 


1841,] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 325 


zeal insisted on immediate conversion. But his career and warfare were 
not long. His death was announced in the Paper of May 1, 1841, in the 
following words : “Solomon Altimos is no more—nhe died on the 18th of 
March, at his home in Ash township, Monroe Co., Michigan, of his old 
disease (epilepsy). He had nineteen fits in succession, and then fell asleep 
to awake no more till the voice of the archangel will raise the dead. He 
was for about eight years a preacher of the Evangelical Association. By 
his death the Church has lost a faithful shepherd, his neighbors a sincere 
teacher and servant, and his wife and two children a kind husband and 
father. Still they need not mourn as those who have no hope.”* 

William Bergheimer departed this life July 23, 1840, in the 26th year 
of his age. His name was in the list of itinerants of the Western (now 
Ohio) Conference, from 1836 to 1840. The first year of his regular itiner- 
ancy, he spent on Lancaster circuit in Ohio, under the superintendence of 
Bro. S. van Gunten ; the second on Indiana circuit, Pa., under Daniel Kehr, 
He was then ordained deacon, and appointed preacher in charge of Arm- 
strong, and the fourth year of Maumee circuit, and thus finished his 
jtinerant and soon after also his earthly career. From the notice of his 
death in the Paper of August 15th, 1840, we learn that he was converted 
in his youth, and died of consumption, after a lingering disease and con- 
finement to his bed for about two months ; that he had been kindly treated, 
and had died, in the house of John Brecht, in Fairfield County, Ohio ; that 
he bore his disease with great patience, and expressed at all times a lively 
hope of eternal life. Some of his last words were: “The work will soon 
be finished!” and thus he ended his career. 


§ 218. Full Salary! 


In the year 1841, the East Pa. Conference held her second session in 
the Evangelical church in Fayette township, Seneca County, New York, 
beginning March 17th. This was the first Annual Conference session ever 
held in the State of New York, and it was a source of encouragement to the 


*) The author remembers Bro. Altimos quite vividly. He was in person a tall, 
stately man. In his social intercourse he was quite impressive and his public minis- 
trations were very powerful. He was fearless, witty, keen, and somewhat eccentric. 
At a camp-meeting held in the year 1837 on the land of Christopher Schubert in Up- 
per Milford, Pa., he preached on the narrow and broad ways—Matth. 7. 13, 14.—and 
described seventeen classes of sinners careering down the broad way to perdition. 
He portrayed some of them so exactly that several guilty persons fled from the ground 
for fear they might be arrested! He knew how to stop the mouths of scoffers and 
gainsayers. One of these attacked him on one occasion in a public meeting, saying 
he would prove by the Scriptures that Altimos was preaching false doctrine. Bro. 
Altimos soon discerned him and asked him whether he could tell where the Psalms 
could be found ?—whereupon this hero answered apologetically that he was not a 
learned man, but he thought the Psalms might be found somewhere in the New Testa- 
ment! This finished him. Bro. A. was a brave soldier of the Cross, and a faithful 
follower of the Lamb. 


326 HISTORY OF THE [1841], 


members in the northern part, as well as a pleasure to the preachers, not- 
withstanding that the great majority had to undergo a long journey over 
the mountains to get there. Two preachers located, and two new ones were 
received into the itinerant ministry. 

The preachers received their salary in full—that is to say: each single 
preacher received $60—each married preacher $105 and $15 for each child 
under fourteen years, together with “ reasonable traveling expenses”! This 
was the first time in the history of any Conference that this occurred ; it 
was therefore something altogether new and cheering. Much gratitude was 
felt that they had now for once reached this point. Full salary /—and there 
was yet a surplus in the treasury which was then divided among the preach- 
ers of this Conference who had had a deficit the year before. Conference 
felt quite happy over this event and expressed its sentiment in the following © 
manner: “ This is a clear evidence that our friends are growing in liberality 
and are no longer willing that their preachers resign their sacred office on 
account of temporal cares.” 

The West Pa. Conference held its session again in New Berlin, Pa., on 
the 7th of April. Several preachers located and five entered into the 
itinerancy. 

The session of the Ohio Conference began in the church at Lafayette, 
Wayne County, (now Ashland County) Ohio, May 12th. Four preachers 
located, and the same number was received into the itinerancy. Colum- 
biania and Canton circuits were united and supplied with three preachers, 
{llinois circuit was changed into Des Plaines circuit. Three new missions : 
Whitewater mission, Ft. Wayne mission, and Cleveland mission were 
established, and the Illinois mission, though its boundaries were changed, 
was continued. 


§ 219. Advance of the West in the Cause of Missions. 


From this time on the West took the lead in the cause of missions, the 
strong current of western immigration opening doors almost everywhere 
for the establishment of new missions, more than could be supplied for 
want of men and means. But as missions in the West were generally far 
less expensive than in the maritime cities and other large places of the East, 
many of them being from the very start nearly and ere long altogether self- 
supporting, the Ohio Conference was able to establish more missions than 
either of the two other Conferences ; moreover, the cause of missions was 
proportionately better supported in the West than in the Kast. 

At this time the Association began to extend more rapidly than ever 
before ; but at the same time, felt also more keenly than ever, its want of 
a sufficient number of properly qualified men and of means, for the successful 
prosecution of the work. 

The Germans who had emigrated from Europe or from the middle 
States to the West, were, in very many places, entirely destitute of all the 


1841.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 327 


means of grace. The older German Churches did little or nothing for them, 
and in some places the people had, as long as they had lived there, not 
heard a single sermon in German, and English preaching they did not 
understand to their satisfaction. Such was the condition in which our 
preachers found many Germans in the States of Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, 
and in the Territories of Wisconsin and lowa. Some, it is true, had their 
pastors, but such pastors !—most of them were outcasts and scoundrels, 
drunkards, voluptuaries, proving rather a curse than a blessing, In this 
way our preachers took the lead in many places of the West, and retained 
it also in many of them ; but they would have done a great deal more, had 
their number been larger. 


This was a very prosperous and successful year to the Association. 
Never before had its increase been so large, and never were its general 
prospects so bright as now. The work of the Lord progressed not only on 
all its fields of labor, but in every part and corner in the Kast and West, 
South and North. The ministers were, in general, filled with the proper 
spirit to carry forward and extend the work of God ; and the many cheering 
reports of its glorious success and prosperity, which filled at that time and 
afterward the columns of the Paper, tended greatly to increase their zeal 
and activity. Whoever will take the time to peruse the many cheering and 
encouraging reports of the work of God, that appeared in the Paper of 1841 
and 1842, can easily satisfy himself of the truth of this statement. In an 
article on revivals, published this year, we find among others the following 
remarks, touching the subject in question :— 


“Tn spite of the rage of the devil and his servants, and the charges 
of disorder, fanaticism, and excess, of such as, either from envy or malice, 
seem unable to bear that the so-called ‘Albrights ’ meet with so much favor 
and find so many followers, the boundaries of the Evangelical Association 
extend more and more, and the increase of its membership grows more 
rapidly from time to time. The false prophets who in the beginning pre- 
dicted its speedy failure, have long since been confounded ; and the strong 
prejudices of the common people have, to a great extent, disappeared, since 
the principles, doctrines, and Discipline of the Society have come to be 
better understood ; so that many who used to look upon the little band with 
contempt, have commenced to fear it. In most places it will not do any 
longer to attack them by bands armed with clubs and stones, sometimes led 
by a Rev. gentleman, or to denounce them indiscriminately as fanatics, 
deceivers, and deceived wretches,” 

Another writer remarked :— 

“This conference year is a highly blessed one to our Church. The 
work of the Lord extends mightily; men are awakened and converted to 
God by scores. On all circuits and stations yet heard from, revivals of 
religion have taken place. Hence it is evident, that the more the Evan- 


328 MIO LOT BOs aie {1841. 


gelical Association is spoken against, the more she extends, and the more 
glorious is her progress.” 


§ 220. Violent Attacks upon the Association. 


At this time there were once more violent attacks made upon the Asso- 
ciation, from different quarters ; its manner of proceeding with mourners, 
its active and lively services, were the main points of attack. Pains were 
taken to prove that these things were fanaticism and disorder. Some 
periodicals especially busied themselves in this way, in order to prevent 
the rapid extension and increase of the Connection, and to break down its 
influence. And as it fearlessly and boldly attacked the wickedness and 
immorality of many nominal Christians, disapproved and rejected their 
dead and hypocritical services, it was also accused of fault-finding. In 
order to check the frequent desertion from their ranks to ours, some cler- 
gymen of different denominations took great pains to cast reproach upon 
us, and to fill their people with prejudices. Both from the pulpit and in 
the family-circle they labored for this end; while others wrote libelous 
pamphlets to blacken our character. 

The Botschafter of 1841 says with reference to such pamphlets: “The 
libelous pamphlet of pastor against the Evangelical Association, 
deserves, in our estimation, no notice. Such ignes fatut generally vanish 
in a short time, doing little or no harm ; on the contrary, they sometimes 
rather serve to stimulate the people to read our books and tracts, in order 
to become acquainted with our doctrines; and in this way they do us 
more good than harm. We would therefore advise Brother K., not 
to trouble himself with writing a refutation of those false and shameless 
charges,” 

The Botschafter, however, was not remiss in those days in defending 
the Association against attacks of this kind. With what fervor and intrep- 
idity it discharged its duty in this respect, appears from the following article 
which appeared in its columns at the close of this conference year; this 
article also confirms what has been said on the great prosperity of the Con- 
nection at that time. It is as follows :— 

“At no previous time have so many and so great awakenings and 
revivals taken place in the Evangelical Association, as has been the case 
for some years past. The missionary spirit that has animated the 
Church at large, and its ministry in particular, for a number of 
years, seems to have contributed largely toward this glorious result ; 
but more especially the increased efforts to bring about revivals by 
protracted and other meetings, seems to have exerted a powerful in- 
fluence. : 

“ Notwithstanding the great want of itinerants, and the many opposi- 
tions and impediments the Evangelical Association extends with increasing 
rapidity. Its membership increases by thousands, and the work runs from 





1841, | EVANGELICAL ASSOCIA TION, 329 


town to town, from State to State. For these reasons the Society is in 
these days more envied, slandered, and abused, by various corrupt Churches 
and proselyters, than ever before ; though the persecution is not as rude 
as formerly. Churches, preachers, and editors, some of whom seem to be 
rationalists and infidels ; drunkards, swearers, and Sabbath-breakers, etc.; 
moralists and formalists—who bite and devour each other, differing as 
widely in their religious sentiments and rites, as the languages at the 
building of the tower of Babel, seem to have united for the purpose of rush- 
ing upon the hated ‘Albrights,’ as they call us, with their slanders and 
calumnies, and of branding them as the most pernicious, dangerous and 
selfish of all. 

“ Pilate and Herod, at other times enemies, here make common cause, 
and become friends. But they generally find no occasion against us, ex- 
cept concerning our mode of worship, (Dan. 6: 4, 5.) which they find 
disorderly, noisy, and sectarian. That our members lead wicked or 
immoral lives, or that we admit drunkards and profane swearers to the 
Lord’s supper, they do not say a word ; but of our disorderly services, our 
proselyting, fault-finding spirit, they complain most bitterly. They know 
too well where the shoe pinches, and hence their silence on certain points. 
Yet, if the poor fellows knew how little we care for their boisterous 
scolding, and how little harm they do us thereby, they would certainly be 
silent. 

“ But the Evangelical Association will not suffer itself to be disturbed 
by such little souls, even if they should discharge their whole infernal bat- 
tery against us, but will go on in its endeavors to lead as many souls to 
Christ as possible. And if she continues to enlarge her boundaries, and to 
increase her membership in this way, which every Church has a right to do, 
no one need or will find fault with it, except only envious sectarians and 
proselyters. 

“Tf any of our members think they can enjoy and edify themselves 
better in some other Church, they are at perfect liberty to leave us and 
join the same ; and if their standing in our midst has been good, we give 
them a certificate to that effect. And members of other denominations 
should have the same liberty to join us, Let every Church preach the 
pure Gospel with power and unction, keeping up lively services in the 
sanctuary, and enforcing the Discipline, and there will scarcely be any room 
left for complaints of deserting members; then those that leave, will 
generally be such as are no blessing to any Church. But that people 
should leave churches which are so corrupt as to retain profane swearers, 
dancers, gamblers, and drunkards as members from year to year, and to 
admit them to the Lord’s supper, none but hirelings and arch-sectarians will 
find fault with.” 

It is true, this is strong and unsparing language ; but whoever is 
acquainted with the abominable and mean attacks on the Society, will 


330 HISTORY OF THE [184q- 


readily excuse the same and ascribe it to a holy zeal for the truth 
and honor of the Lord. 


§ 221. Blessed Mission Work. 


This year we had six missions ; four in Ohio, one in Kast Pa., and one 
in West Pa. Conference, which were all crowned with more or less success. 
New York mission especially succeeded beyond all expectation, after almost 
all hope as to its final success had been abandoned ; sore trials, however, 
had not been wanting. Bro. Michael His, who had been appointed mis- 
sionary there at the last session of the East Pennsylvania Conference, was, 
on account of his failing health, obliged to bid farewell to the mission ~ 
toward the end of September. Bro. Christian Meyers was then appointed 
his successor, and arrived there Oct. 29th, to the great joy of the little band. . 
In his first report he remarks thus: ‘‘ The brethren and sisters were greatly 
delighted with my arrival, and thanked God with tears of joy for having 
sent them another minister. Although they were about four weeks with- 
out a preacher, yet they had remained firm in the service of the Lord. It 
is true, the enemy had not been idle during this time; the world had 
rejoiced and said, that everything would now be frustrated again; and 
some individuals had even taken the pains to visit those who had received 
the truth, in order to turn them away from us. But hitherto their efforts 
have failed, and our small society, instead of decreasing, has had an addi- 
tion of one member. The prospects of this mission are at present very 
bright.” 

Bro. Meyers had been a local preacher for several years in Philadelphia, 
and this year set out as an itinerant. His thorough acquaintance with the 
German character and city life, gave him great advantages and qualified 
him eminently, before many others, for the important post he was now 
called to fill. He justified all reasonable expectations ; the affairs of the 
mission took a more favorable turn, and at the close of the year it numbered 
57 members. 

But now the want of a church and graveyard was deeply felt, without 
which two requisites no enterprise of the kind can permanently prosper. 
Several plans were, accordingly, devised, but alas! none carried out. 
Bro. Charles Hesser proposed the following plan for the erection of 
churches in larger towns, and wished to have it applied first to the city of 
New York, viz., that each member of the Association should lay by one 
cent a week for this purpose, whereby between four and five thousand dol- 
lars would have been raised annually at that time. 

Bro. John P. Leib was of opinion, that this plan, although very good in 
itself, would scarcely do for New York, as it would work too slowly, and the 
necessity for a church there was very urgent. He therefore proposed in- 
stead a ten thousand dollars plan for New York; which was, that 1000 
persons should obligate themselves to pay $10 each. Strong efforts were 


1341.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 331 


made to realize this plan, and much was written in the Paper respecting it, 
but all to no purpose.* 

A third plan, devised by a sister in Ohio, to raise $1000 by as many 
subscriptions of $1 each among the sisters, was but partially carried out ; 
and there were not quite $2000 raised by means of the two latter plans, 
that of Bro. Hesser having been dropped altogether. Thus the infant 
society in the city of New York was indeed greatly disappointed in its 
expectations ; but, nevertheless, the preparatory step toward erecting a 
church finally succeeded ; it progressed, however, slowly, and not without 
great difficulties. 

This year Baltimore mission prospered as well as the first; the society 
increased considerably, and the church edifice was completed and dedi- 
cated to the service of God, December 12, 1842. At the close of this year 
the society numbered between 250 and 300 members, and was in a highly 
prosperous condition ; strange as it may seem, it never far exceeded this 
number, but was often a great deal below it; notwithstanding some great 
revivals and many conversions, its membership seldom reached 300. The 
deaths of many of the old members, the removal of others, as well as the 
expulsion and egression of considerable numbers, prevented an increase of 
the numerical strength of the society, while in other respects many im- 
provements were made. 


Ohio Conference had four missions this year, which, however, on ac- 
count of their great extent, could not properly be attended to, that of 
Cleveland alone excepted. Illinois mission had more than 300 miles in 
circumference, and but one preacher, Bro. Isaac Hoffert, and his health. 
was very delicate. Yet he labored not in vain. He had thirteen regular 
appointments, of which the region of the present Cedarville and Sharon, 
Henry County, were the principal places. In each of these two places there 
was a class of 20 members—the only classes of his mission which lay, for 
the most part, fallow and extended beyond the Mississippi. Hence the 
travels of the missionary were not only connected with great hardships, 
but even with danger, especially in Winter and Spring, when the waters 
were high. 

On Fort Wayne mission, situated for the most part in the State of 
Indiana, around Fort Wayne, and extending over parts of 7 or 8 counties, 
Bro. John Hall labored amid great difficulties and discouragements. He ex- 
plored and occupied an extensive territory, formed also several small classes, 
and thus prepared the way for the future. Many parts of the country were 
very thinly settled in those days, the people were generally poor, and the 
roads bad, so that after a day’s journey man and beast were often consid- 


*) This well intended “ten thousand dollars”? plan actually frightened the Church. 
The members were not yet accustomed to such sums for church edifices. Bro, Hesser’s 


plan would probably have succeeded better. 
29 


332 HISTORY OF THE [1841. 


erably worn out, and had then to content themselves with scanty food and 
bad lodgings. 

In the following year the Brethren John Hall and John Nicolai labored 
on the mission, but without great success ; yet their labors were not alto- 
gether in vain. They encountered great opposition by would-be pastors, 
and still had to deny themselves in many things. In 1843 this mission 
was allotted to the Brethren Daniel Kern and George A. Blank; it made 
fine progress this year, conversions took place, new preaching places were 
taken up, and between 60 and 70 members received. The following year 
Bro. Blank and Simon A. Tobias were appointed the missionaries 
there. But Bro. Tobias had to return home, was taken sick, and Bro. 
Blank was thus left alone for a great part of the year. He was, however, 
assisted a great deal by his presiding elder, Absalom B. Schaefer, who 
labored with indefatigable perseverance and great self-denial as a pioneer in 
the State of Indiana, and was also permitted to see much fruit of his labors. 
Honor, to whom honor is due. It may be observed here, that when the 
Ohio Conference was divided, this mission fell to Illinois Conference and in 
1844 consequently belonged to the latter. 


§ 222. Successful Camp-meetings. 


The camp-meetings during the conference year were richly blessed. 
At the close of a report from Salem district, West Pa. Conference, it is said : 
“Our camp-meetings seem to have caused a revival over the whole district.” 
By means of one of them the work was introduced into the village of 
Hartleton, Union County, Pa.; some persons were converted at this meeting, 
others began to seek the Lord and a class was formed there. 

On Carmel district also some highly blessed camp-meetings were held ; 
one of the most blessed took place on York circuit, Zion district, where 
more than 400 members are said to have been present at times, and about 
50 persons to have found the pardon of their sins. There were 46 tents on 
the ground, occupied by about 80 or 90 families. This circuit was for many 
years renowned for its large and good camp-meetings ; almost every family 
tented, both rich and poor, and the result was always good. But afterward 
many lost their courage or inclination to tent. Whether they regarded 
such meetings as not so necessary any more, there being plenty of churches 
everywhere, or whether their interest in the cause of God abated, we 
will not presume to decide. These remarks apply to many other circuits 
in all Conferences, especially the older. Of the camp-meeting on Lycom- 
ing circuit, Bro. Benjamin Epley remarks: “Our camp-meeting last 
Fall was blessed beyond all expectation, with awakenings and conver- 
sions.” 

Bishop Seybert mentions a camp-meeting held in Fairfield County, 
Ohio, on the land of Bro. Brecht, as follows: “The very first evening we 
nad blessed times. On Friday the meeting grew in interest, many hearts 


1841.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIA TION. 333 


were touched, and praying and wrestling with God followed. On Saturday 
afternoon everything seemed favorable for a revival. At first a solemn 
silence pervaded the assembly, followed by a powerful commotion of both 
saints and sinners. Many tears were shed by the children of God, while 
praying for the conversion of their friends and relatives, till sinners cried 
to God for mercy and pardon. Toward evening a gang of ruffians and 
Belial’s children had come to the camp-ground, for the avowed purpose of 
breaking up the meeting ; but the Lord frustrated their design, by sending 
a heavy storm with lightning and powerful peals of thunder, whereby the 
ruffians became so frightened and tame, that we could continue our exer- 
cises in peace, without further disturbance, praying with and instructing 
the mourners.” 

In Dry Valley, Union County, Pa., a glorious work of grace took place 
during this year, under the superintendence of George Schaefer and Joseph 
Truby ; it began with a protracted meeting, held in the house of Isaac 
Kyer, toward the close of October. A considerable number were con- 
verted, and joined the Church. Old Union circuit prospered throughout, 
this year. 

In East Pennsylvania Conference many glorious revivals took place 
this year. The number of the newly received members within this Confer- 
ence district amounted to nearly 1000, and its boundaries were greatly 
extended, especially in the North, in the State of New York and in 
Canada. 

In Schuylkill Haven and Pinegrove, glorious revivals took place, 
under the pastoral labors of Bro. Francis Hoffman. The society of Schuyl- 
kill Haven was considerably increased, and that of Pinegrove founded this 
year. Also at Lebanon and Millerstown, five miles above Lebanon, cheer- 
ing awakenings took place, under the pastorage of Bro. Daniel Berger. At 
the last mentioned place a protracted meeting was begun January 28th, 
which is said to have resulted in the conversion of about 100 souls. The 
number of mourners at the altar was sometimes from 30 to 35, and on one 
evening 31 souls are said to have found peace and consolation. Many of 
the new converts united with us, and arrangements were made forthwith, 
to build a church; but the society being so very small yet, the enterprise 
did not succeed without great difficulties. 

This year the Philadelphia society commenced to prosper again, Bro. 
Hesser remarks in a report of the society as follows: “On Christmas we 
commenced a protracted meeting, which lasted twelve days. The Brethren 
Leib, Maize, and Boas, had come to our assistance. Between 20 and 30 
souls were converted during the meeting, most of whom joined our society. 
The work is still progressing, and almost every week we have some conver- 
sions. * * * * Our society is, on the whole, quite revived and in fine 
spirits ; my prayer is, that harmony, love, and peace, may prevail more and 
more. 


334 HISTORY OF THE [1841. 


“Tn the vicinity of Germantown also a glorious work of grace has begun, 
and our prospeets here are, on the whole, very good. I also take great 
pleasure in being able to state, that most of them who with Vogelbach had 
left us, have come back, and are glad that they are at home again among 
their brethren. * * * * Our Sabbath-school is likewise in a highly flour- 
ishing condition, numbering about 200 scholars. Considering the powerful 
opposition we have to encounter, we can truly say: The Lord has done 
great things for us, whereof we are glad.” 

On Milford and Lehigh circuits, matters went better again this year, 
especially at Allentown. Bro. Michael F. Maize, the preacher in charge of 
Lehigh circuit, writes in November, referring to Allentown: “The Lord 
has commenced a glorious work here, during a protracted meeting ; a con- 
siderable number have been converted to God, and many more have been 
awakened. We expect a rich harvest this Winter.’ Bro. Leib writes, 
referring to these two circuits: “In spite of all opposition, the Lord has 
done wonders. Although we have not occupied a very large field, yet I 
venture to say that we have not been idle in cultivating what we have. 
The work of God 1s still progressing on these circuits.” In Springtown 
and Williams township, as well as in the neighborhood of Mauch Chunk, 
the work extended and gained a solid footing this year. On Lancaster cir. 
cuit, Turkey Hill, the society increased considerably, and in Adamstown 
the work of the Lord progressed finely. This year the first protracted 
meeting was held here by our ministers. 

On Lake circuit in the State of New York, the work of grace progressed 
finely in general, but especially in Grove, Alleghany County, where a glo- 
rious revival took place, and the society increascd considerably. In Sparta, 
Livingston County, they were blessed with a revival. When the Lord’s 
Supper was celebrated there, Evangelicals, Lutherans, Methodists and 
Baptists, partook of the sacred emblems together, and there was a general 
union of the believers of all these denominations. Michael Lehn and 
Michael Sindlinger traveled the circuit. On Buffalo circuit, the number of 
believers also increased considerably, especially in Boston, Erie Co., where 
the membership was almost doubled. 

On Canton and Columbiana circuits, in Ohio Conference, which had 
conjointly three preachers this year, under the charge of EHlias Stoever, con- 
versions took place in different places, especially at Greensburg where the 
society increased considerably. Erie circuit prospered also, as well as 
Mansfield, Marion and some others. But in the absence of the necessary 
documents, we cannot say which parts enjoyed the most glorious outpour- 
ings of the Spirit of God. 

Des Plaines circuit, in the State of Illinois, did admirably well this 
year. The Brethren Adam Stroh and Christian H. Lintner labored there 
with great success. The circuit extended from Chicago and Naperville, in 
Tilinois, as far as ten miles north of Milwaukee, in Wisconsin. 


1841.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 335 


This year Bro. Stroh also commenced to preach in the city of Milwau- 
kee. In different places considerable awakenings took place, of which the 
most important were those near Wheeling in Illinois, and at Kckert’s six 
miles south of Milwaukee. The one at Wheeling continued from Christmas 
almost all Winter, and about 50 souls were converted. The revival near 
Milwaukee took place principally during a protracted meeting in Bro. Fr. 
Kckert’s barn, and the conversion of about 30 individuals, for the most 
part heads of families, was the glorious result. In Chicago also the breth- 
ren labored with great success. They generally preached in the City Hall, 
a large room in what was then the City Hotel, corner of Clark and Randolph 
streets, where the “Sherman House” stands at present. There were 
about 100 new members received during the year, and the whole member- 
ship was 186, [Illinois mission numbered fifty members, seven of whom 
were received during this year. 


§ 223. Bishop Seybert’s First Visit to Mlinois and Wisconsin. 


During this year Bishop Seybert paid his first visit to [Illinois and 
Wisconsin ; and the first camp-meeting of the Evangelical Association in 
the far West, as it was then called, and was also held this year on the land 
of Father Jacob Esher, two miles south-east of Wheeling, Cook County, 
Illinois, and 30 miles north-west of Chicago, beginning July 15th. There 
were 18 tents on the ground, which were crowded. Some of the friends 
had come from a distance of thirty miles on wagons drawn by oxen, through 
bad roads and deep waters ; and others as far as 70 miles on foot. To all, 
except the preachers, camp-meetings were a novelty. Bishop Seybert 
superintended the meeting, and besides him the following preachers were 
present : Isaac Hoffert, Adam Stroh, and Christian H. Lintner. “ That the 
meeting was highly blessed,” says Bro. Esher in a report of it, “I need 
scarcely mention. God was not only feelingly, but even visibly present 
with his people; for one evening, when a heavy storm was gathering 
around the camp-ground, some profane persons present, exultingly predicted 
that now the meeting would be broken up; but lo! all at once the storm 
divided just in front of our camp, and while the rain fell in torrents on all 
sides, scarcely a drop fell on the camp-ground! Even the unconverted 
saw in this the finger of God, but his children praised Him with thankful 
hearts for this wonderful exhibition of His protecting power. Most of the 
witnesses of this event are still living, and can at any time confirm what I 
have just written.” 

The meeting was victorious from beginning to end, and crowned with 
awakenings and conversions. “ Many,” says Bishop Seybert, “ passed from 
death unto life.” At the quarterly conference held during this camp- 
meeting, also the first preacher of the “far West’ was received on 
trial, namely, Bro. Christian Ebinger, one of our first converts in the West. 
Thus the first visit of the Bishop, the first camp-meeting of the Church, 


336 HISTORY OF THE [1841. 


and the first reception of a minister by it, in the West, took place here to- 
gether. 

By Bro. Seybert’s visit, both the members and the preachers were 
greatly encouraged and strengthened; and the Bishop himself, having 
become fully acquainted with the importance and wants of the West, was 
ever after the warm friend and advocate of the same. Fully satisfied of 
the immense importance of the West, in a political and religious point of 
view, he exerted his whole influence to call the attention of the Church in 
its operations to the same. In the Hast he sometimes spoke so favorably 
of the West, that he was often charged with arousing and fostering the 
spirit of immigration to those beautiful prairies and flowery groves, to the 
injury of the Hast, as far as the Evangelical Association was concerned. 


But the Bishop’s object evidently was, to promote the honor of God and . 


the best interests of the Association. The emigration had already com- 
menced, and increased every year. Hundreds of our members, often the 
greater part of classes and societies, and even preachers, emigrated to the 
West. Most of them improved their temporal affairs considerably ; some 
gained both in a temporal and spiritual point of view ; while others gained 
in temporal things only, but lost spiritually. The work had now gained a 
broad and solid basis in the West, and the prospects for the future were 
bright. From what has been said, it appears that the year under consider- 
ation was a highly blessed and fruitful one. 


§ 224. Building Churches. 


The willingness of the members to build churches, which had been 
manifested for some years past, was still on the increase, especially in the 
eastern conferences. Churches were built in many places of the country, 
but especially in country towns, though also in some maritime cities. The 
difference between the churches that were built now, and those that had 
been built in former times, was also remarkable, both with regard to the 
external appearance of the buildings, and their internal arrangements and 
costs. 

The first churches were small, low and plain, for the most part in 
remote corners, especially in towns, either on account of poverty of the 
members, or out of humility, the sincerity of which we would not question. 
The costs were generally from $300 to $500, and in some instances a little 
more. One story 12 or 15 feet high, an aisle through the middle, seats on 
both sides, a proportionably high pulpit, generally on one of the sides, no 
altar—this was the general style of the first churches. Those built in 
the next period, were somewhat larger, generally 30 by 40, or 40 by 45, 
a little higher, the pulpit lower, frequently two instead of one aisle, 
generally with an altar, and cost from six to seven hundred dollars, some- 
times $1,000. 


= 


1841.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIA TION. 337 


At this time our people commenced to erect larger buildings, in some 
places of two stories, especially in towns, the costs varying from $1500 to 
$3000, in the large cities from $6000 to $7000, without the lot. There was, 
thanks be to God, no occasion till then for complaining of extravagance in 
the erection of churches in the Evangelical Association, But, though 
there was generally more done in this line than ever before, it was still 
rather necessary to encourage than to discourage the church-building spirit, 
or to warn against extravagance.* Instead of seeking also in this respect, 
first the kingdom of heaven, many seek first to provide grand and conven- 
ient houses for themselves, contenting themselves with small, inconvenient 
and insignificant houses of worship, to the great injury of the good cause 
and their own disgrace. Such conduct is, undoubtedly, as displeasing in 
the sight of God as extravagance and pride in church edifices. 


§ 225. Prosperity of the Publishing House. 


The Publishing House was in a flourishing condition, and the book 
trade prospered beyond all expectation. The press was almost constantly 
in motion, and yet the demands for books could not all be met, The pub- 
lication of the German pocket Bible, before alluded to, was completed this 
year, and one-half of the 3000 copies that were printed, were bound and 
sent off. But there being very few railroads in those days, the forwarding 
of books was rather inconvenient ; the boxes had either to be sent hundreds 
of miles by private conveyance, or some person had to ship a number of 
them, to be distributed among the preachers. Especially books for the 
West had to be sent this way. In order to give the reader a correct idea 
of these things, we mention here an order for books, that was received this 
year, and the manner of forwarding them. 

Bishop Seybert ordered for the different districts of the Ohio Confer- 
ence, twenty-three thousand seven hundred and twenty-five books, with the 
intention to forward them to the West himself. At the close of his order 
he remarked: “ You will probably think I have entirely overshot the mark, 
in ordering so many books ; but, if you were as well acquainted with the 
scarcity of books in the West. as Iam, you would judge differently.” <A 
great portion of these books consisted, of course, of little Sabbath-school 
books ; yet their whole weight was 2500 pounds, and their cost, including 
a small quantity for Illinois, amounted to four thousand, four hundred and 
six dollars, and twenty-five and one-half cents. This was the heaviest 
order for books our House ever received, and the General Agent, Bro. Chas. 
Hammer, remarked: “ Should such a large order be sent us again, we ought 
to have it a year before the books are wanted, in order to have time to get 
them ready.” f 


*) The time has come, however, when the watchmen ought to be wide awake in 
this respect also. 


+) It required a four horse team to forward these books 40 miles to the canal, 
whence they were shipped per boat. 


338 | HISTORY OF THE [1841. 


The scarcity of German books in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Jowa, 
was in those days so great that the Christliche Botschafter and the 
smaller hymn-book were used in some of the Sunday-schools to instruct 
the scholars. 


§ 226. Concerning Education and Institutions of Learning. 


As to liberal education and higher institutions of learning they were 
still too much underrated and neglected by many preachers and members, 
although some of them were learning to realize their importance. The 
time had evidently not yet arrived for the Association to establish higher 
institutions of learning ; still, more might have been done in a general way 
for the promotion of science and general culture. The great abuse of 
learning in many Colleges and Universities, both in Europe and America, 
with its injurious results had filled some of the members with indifference 
and, indeed, with prejudices against such institutions, not considering that 
the abuse of a good cause never proves anything against the cause itself. 
But the increased book trade, the many good books, written by pious and 
learned men which came into the hands of preachers and members—in the 
distribution of which Bishop Seybert manifested special zeal and activity, 
the circulation of the Christliche Botschafter, and the spirit of the time, 
gradually diminished this indifference, and prejudices slowly but surely 
disappeared. As the Association was frequently charged with being as a 
body hostile to learning and higher schools, they were, at length, com- 
pelled to express themselves on the subject. The Christliche Botschafter 
then frequently contained articles which expressed the mind of the greater 
part of the Church on the subject. 

There appeared in rapid succession communications under the captions: 
“T have no time for Study,” “ Education of the Clergy,” “Science,” etc., 
which produced considerable excitement with reference to this subject. 

Excepting a brief article on Culture of the Mind in the 5th volume of 
the Botschafter the above named articles were the first of importance to 
appear in the Periodical on the subject of education, general scientific 
training, and mental culture. The subject was new in the Church, no one 
wrote about it, and no one recommended it publicly although many of the 
older preachers urged upon the younger brethren to read good books and 
acquire wholesome knowledge, etc. Really there was great hesitancy in deal- © 
ing with the subject, partly because the preachers themselves were unlearned 
men, and partly for fear of giving offence in some directions. Many of the 
members had come from denominations, in whose ministers they had clearly 
seen that higher schools and an educated ministry without the unction of 
the Holy Spirit, are useless ; and as they now felt far happier, after having 
been converted to God, under the guidance of even an unlearned ministry, 
and saw, on the whole more of the fear of God, more spiritual life and true 
Christianity than in their former Churches, it does not seem very strange 


1841.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIA TION. 339 


that they failed to apprehend adequately the advantages of sound learning 
in connection with true piety, and were even prejudiced against it. And 
as the ranks of the ministry were constantly supplied and increased from 
the laity, it was a matter of course that they brought some of these preju- 
dices into the ministry. Moreover, a considerable portion of the member- 
ship and several of the ministers had come from the Mennonite and 
Dunkard denominations, whose ministers, as is well known, are unlearned. 
Under such circumstances no other sentiments on the subject of higher 
schools could be reasonably expected ; and any movement designed to 
effect a change in this direction of higher education, as a matter of course, 
caused some apprehension, and encountered opposition. We may state, 
however, that many of the ministers and members had, by observation and 
reflection, become convinced of the advantages of a liberal education long 
before this time and were ready to aid in establishing institutions of learn- 
ing, if they could have satisfied themselves that the time was ripe for the 
Evangelical Association to undertake such enterprises. But as the 
strongest friends of this cause did not consider the Church ripe for it, the 
matter was deferred to a more favorable time. It was deemed proper, 
however, at this juncture to begin the agitation of the subject, in order to 
hasten the wished for time, and to prepare the people for it. The above 
mentioned articles were the beginning of these preparatory labors ; after- 
ward more light was thrown upon the subject by freely discussing it, and 
when it came before the General Conference, the next year, it met with 
favor and was strongly supported. 

The increase of members during the conference year amounted to 1514 
and the whole membership numbered 10,506, the number of itinerants 104, 
local preachers 109. They were divided among the three Conferences as 
follows: East Pa., 3,439 members, 35 itinerants and 19 local preachers ; 
West Pa., 3,429 members, 30 itinerants and 34 local preachers ; Ohio, 3,638 
members, 39 itinerants and 56 local preachers. 


§ 227. Biographical Sketches. 


During this conference year two preachers died. 

Samuel Witt, of Somerset County, Pa., became a subject of converting 
grace about the year 1816, and joined the Evangelical Association. The 
Conference of 1818 received him as preacher into the itinerancy on proba- 
tion, and appointed him as the junior colleague of Bro. Jacob Barber on 
Somerset circuit. The following year he was appointed to Bedford circuit, 
but at the next Conference he located on account of family affairs. After- 
ward he served as a respected and well beloved local preacher. At the 
special General Conference in 1836 he was ordained deacon, not having had 
as it would appear, an opportunity before, as the sessions of the Annual 
Conference were always held at a great distance from his residence. He 
was consumptive for a number of years, but died finally of bilious fever, in 


340 HISTORY OF THE [1842. 


the 53d year of his age. On his death-bed he was in great peace, and de- 
parted in full hope of eternal life. 


Simeon Keil, of Wayne County, Ohio, died of consumption in his 23rd 
year. About four years previous he found the Lord, and was a faithful 
member of the Church from that time forth until his decease. In 1841 he 
was received into the itinerancy on probation by the Ohio Conference, and 
appointed the junior colleague of Jacob Frey on Pickaway circuit, but his 
health soon failing he had to leave the itinerant work. His disease became 
worse and he died before the close of the conference year, in the firm hope 
of a blissful immortality. 


§ 228. A Still More Fruitful Year. 


East Pennsylvania Conference held her session in 1842 at Allentown, © 
Lehigh County, Pa., beginning March 2nd; West Pennsylvania at New 
Berlin again, beginning April 6th; and Ohio Conference in Walnut town- 
ship, Pickaway County, Ohio, beginning May 11th. Nine ministers in all 
left the itinerancy, and 17 were received. The East Pennsylvania Confer- 
ence formed a new circuit in the State of New York, called Jefferson circuit, 
and established a mission in the city of Rochester, N. Y., and another at 
Germantown, Pa, 


West Pennsylvania Conference founded a mission at York, Pa., and a 
second in the County of Baltimore, Md., near and around Baltimore. Ohio 
Conference established two new missions in Illinois: Rock River and Mt. 
Carmel missions. In the East Pennsylvania Conference the preachers’ 
salary was full again, but the two other Conferences fell considerably 
short. 


This year was still more prosperous than the preceding one, and the 
increase of membership exceeded every former year. Hach of the three 
Conferences received considerably more members this year, than in any 
previous one, and the work extended and increased extraordinarily. Never 
before had so many and extensive awakenings and conversions taken 
place, as this year. Not only in some places, but almost everywhere 
crowds of sinners were converted, and the believers encouraged and ad- 
vanced. Some of the preachers stated that they had never witnessed the 
like before. On some of the circuits nearly all the classes received addi- 
tions, and in many other places new classes were formed. The usual 
number of 30, 50, 70, or even 100 on a circuit or station, were far exceeded 
this year in most places. Some circuits reported as many as 150, 200, and 
even 250 new members. Some of the preachers remarked in their reports, 
that they could not give a particular report of the work of grace on their 
fields of labor, as it was general. People of every rank and age, old and 
young, rich and poor, moral and immoral, became the subjects of converting 
grace. 


1842. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 341 


But not only in our Church, but also in every other denomination 
insisting on a Scriptural conversion, such frequent and great revivals took 
place ; and this happened even in several denominations, where this had 
never been the case. Adam Ettinger, then a presiding elder of Zion dis- 
tric,t in a short report of his district among other things makes the following 
remarks :— 

‘As to the work of God on my district, I would, indeed, send you a 
glowing report, but for want of time and opportunity, I cannot go into 
details. May it, therefore, suffice to say, as to the generality of awakenings 
and conversions, that I have never seen or heard anything similar to it 
before. Everything appears to be in commotion ; wherever you turn your 
eyes, you see new and powerful revivals. Here in York, at Baltimore, and 
on the different circuits, scarcely a meeting is held, without more or less 
mourners coming forward to the altar, many of whom wrestle 1n prayer till 
they receive the blessing. Even in Churches, where only a few years ago 
everything was dark and gloomy, in which the cries of penitent sinners for 
mercy and the shouts of praise of the new converts, were rejected and 
despised as imbecility, exaggeration and fanaticism, you now see scores of 
persons coming to the ‘anxious bench,’ falling on their knees and crying 
to God for mercy; and where they are not frightened and intimi- 
dated by the soul-murdering cries of ‘order, order ’,—there— astonishing 
—even in the strange land, the praise of the Lord is heard here 
and there. But, alas! only too soon the harps are again hung on the 
willows.” 

In a report from John C. Reisner and his two colleagues, Jacob Dereich 
and Philip Schwille, of Lancaster circuit, Hast Pa. Conference, the following 
remarks are made :— 

“On the whole, we are doing exceedingly well on this circuit. There 
is no class that has not received additions, and some classes consist of new 
members altogether. More than 200 persons have found peace with God 
during this conference year, and over 150 have joined our Church. And 
had we been able to hold all the general meetings that were desired by the 
friends, the number would have been much larger. On Turkey Hill about 
seventy persons are said to have found peace during two weeks. Yes, 
the Lord works so powerfully, as has never been witnessed here be- 
fore. Persons were wrought upon by the grace of God, both in their 
houses and in the streets ; and a certain man is said to have found his 
Saviour while in a well, sixty feet under the surface of the ground! Hal- 
lelujah !” 

Reporting from York circuit, West Pennsylvania Conference, the 
Brethren Henry Thomas and J. Etger, among other things, remarked as 
follows :— 

“ During the last few months more souls have been converted to God 
than we have ever seen or heard of before in so short a time. The houses 


342 HISIORY OF THE [1842. 


are too small, the nights (it was in the midst of Winter) too short, and our 
strength is entirely inadequate to the labors which the mourners require. 
Some of the friends are exhausted by their incessant labors, while others 
have laid their secular business almost entirely aside, in order to labor ex- 
clusively for the salvation of their fellow-men ” 


In his report of Cumberland circuit, Bro. Jacob Boas states :— 


“Of a truth the Lord has this year visited old Cumberiand circuit with 
the outpouring of His Spirit. * * * Parents and their children, young men 
and young women, rich and poor, have given their hearts to the God of all 
mercies, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to 
enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. * * * More than 200 new converts 
have joined our Church during this year.”’ 

During a meeting in Kutz’s Church, three miles east of Carlisle, which 
lasted four weeks, between 50 and 60 persons are said to have been con- 
verted, 48 of whom have joined our Church. There was a meeting near 
Mount Rock that continued 16 days, and resulted in the conversion of 30 
persons, 28 of whom united with us. During a seven day meeting, in a 
school-house in the Pines, near Shippensburg, between thirty and forty 
persons found peace with God, and thirty-two of them united with 
us. In Fishing Creek Valley, Perry County, and in several other places of 
chat circuit, glorious conversions have also taken place. These are 
some specimens of the heart-refreshing reports of the brethren during 
this year. 

In East Pennsylvania Conference, most of the other circuits as well as 
Lancaster circuit just mentioned, were blessed with glorious revivals. On 
Lebanon circuit, in Fishing Creek Valley, Dauphin County, a considerable 
awakening took place during this year; also in Millerstown again, Lebanon 
County, where about sixty are said to have found peace ; and in Lebanon, 
(so wrote Bro. Jacob Saylor,) a large number have been converted 
to God. 

On Schuylkill circuit the labors of the brethren Daniel Berger and 
Solomon Neitz were likewise abundantly blessed. At Schuylkill Haven 
about sixty persons were converted during a protracted meeting at Pine 
Grove 30, and at Orwigsburg about 20. On the whole, there were 119 
members received during the year on this circuit. On Leikens circuit the 
Brethren John Sensel and George T. Hains labored, and the work of the 
Lord extended farther and farther. At Millersburg a glorious revival took 
place. Bro. Henry Bucks reported, that the work progressed finely in 
Pottsville, and the society there was in a flourishing condition. In Phila- 
delphia Bro. Michael F. Maize’s labors were greatly blessed. The new 
mission in Germantown and neighborhood, where Bro. Joseph M. Saylor 
was stationed, succeeded remarkably well, and the society resolved the 
first year to build a church, which resolution was also carried out the sec 


1842.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 343 


ond year. The circuits of Mohawk, Lake and Buffalo, in the State of New 
York, numbered many converts, especially the former two. 

In the West Pa. Conference the work was, with very few exceptions, a 
general one. Glorious awakenings took place on Columbia circuit, situated 
then for the most part in Union County, In New Columbia between 30 
and 40 were converted, and arrangements were then made to build a church. 
A meeting of nine days was held in the house of J. Rohland, in Buffalo 
Valley, and nearly 40 persons were converted, 30 of whom joined the 
Church. The work progressed also in other places on the circuit. The 
preacher in charge, Bro. George Schaefer, wrote at the close of his report 
thus: “I can truly say, that this year the Lord has done great things for 
us, as from 100 to 150 persons have become the happy subjects of redeem- 
ing grace.” 

Lycoming circuit, in charge of the brethren Alexander Longsdorf and 
Simon M’Lehn, was in a most flourishing condition, and was blessed during 
the year with many awakenings and conversions, especially in Nittany 
Valley. During a protracted meeting there, about 70 persons are said to have 
found peace. Also in Sugar Valley and in many other places, large numbers 
were converted. There were 147 new members received during the year. 
In Millheim, on Center circuit, a glorious revival took place at the dedica- 
tion of the new church. Henry Rohland and Aaron Wolf labored on Union 
circuit, and their labors were crowned with more than ordinary success; 
nor was New Berlin an exception to the general rule, about thirty souls 
were converted to God, and the society was powerfully revived and 
strengthened. 

In the town of York, Pa., where the year before a spacious, convenient 
and fine looking church had been built, but alas! not paid for; and where 
a mission had been established by the previous Conference, a considerable 
awakening took place this and the following year under the charge of George 
Brickley. When the mission was being established, there were 12 members 
there, and after the lapse of two years the society numbered more than 100 
members. After this, the mission was changed into a station, and seemed 
to do tolerably well for some time. 

Baltimore County mission, where Levi Eberhart was stationed, did re- 
markably well the first year, and at its close numbered nearly 100 members. 
Also at Jarrettville, Md., a glorious work was commenced this year, a 
considerable society was gathered, and afterward achurch built. There was 
likewise a good beginning made in Whiteground, west of Baltimore, and 
subsequently a church built there. The missionary had found still more 
openings near Baltimore ; but the following year the mission was changed 
into a circuit in charge of Moses M’Lehn, when it began to stagnate and 
go backward. Afterwards the circuit was dropped altogether, but finally 
taken up again. 

The Baltimore society was this and the following year in charge of 


Jo44 PISO KY OPO Le [1842, 


Bro. Charles Hammer, and gained in point of solidity and strength, but not 
much in numbers. 

In Virginia, where the sainted Moses Bower labored, several important 
awakenings took place, one of them in Quaker Hollow, and another in 
Black Creek Valley. This circuit that had lain fallow for a number of 
years, now began to recover and bring forth abundant fruit. George Del- 
linger reported of Gettysburg circuit, that the Lord had commenced a 
glorious work near Baalhill ; a considerable number were converted, and a 
class of 27 members formed. Also at Warren the work made glorious 
progress. 

In the Ohio Conference the increase of membership was not as large as 
in either of the other two Conferences, yet larger than ever before. Many 
conversions took place on Wayne circuit, in charge of Elias Stoever, espec- 
ially at a protracted meeting in the house of John Bender, in Wayne Co. 
Bro. Stoever wrote of it: “This was one of the most blessed meetings that 
we have attended for a long time. The cries for mercy and the shouts of 
victory were heard at a great distance. Here 34 new converts joined the 
Church. We are, however, confidently looking for a still richer harvest, as 
the prospects on this circuit are very promising.” 

On Canton circuit the work of God prospered greatly, and brought 
forth much fruit, especially at Greensburg, where another great revival took 
place. Bro. Long, preacher in charge of the circuit, wrote in one of his 
reports thus: “ During this meeting from 25 to 30 penitents came to the 
altar at every invitation, and many of them found peace.” He further re- 
marked : “About two miles south of this place, where about eight years 
ago a small number of our people were ruined by Mormonism, a new class 
can now be formed again. These unhappy persons lost, through that im- 
position, not only the correct knowledge of God and his word, which they 
had acquired, but also their property, and some even their lives ; for, after 
they had come to Nauvoo, their former class-leader, B., was shot by a mob, 
and, with three others, buried in a well.’”’ On this circuit the largest camp- 
meeting, at least in point of the number of tents, that had at that time ever 
been heard of in the Evangelical Association, was held during this year, on 
the land of J. Rau; the number of tents was 56. In a report of his cir- 
cuit, John J. Kopp wrote of this camp-meeting: “It was blessed with 
awakenings, conversions, and a general revival of religion, from begin- 
ning to end. The exercises were continued without interruption from 8 
o'clock of Monday morning till Tuesday morning. During the last night 
of the meeting between 30 and 40 penitents cried for mercy at the altar, 
most of whom were also pardoned.” 

Glorious awakenings likewise took place on Lake circuit, in charge of 
Peter Getz ; a meeting near Vermillion Furnace was especially richly blessed 
and resulted in the conversion of a large number of souls. Another glori- 
ous work of grace broke out in the north-eastern corner of Seneca County, 


1842.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIA TION. 345 


Ohio, which resulted in the formation of a fine class there during the year. 
Bro. Getz wrote at the close of one of his reports: “I can say to the praise 
of God, that, upon the whole, we are doing well on this circuit. There 
appears to be a great excitement among the people on the subject of religion. 
Protracted meetings are being held by different denominations, which are 
protracted not only for weeks, but even for months, and hundreds of souls 
are said to be converted. Iam at times of opinion, that vy Miller’s pre- 
diction of the nearness of the second advent of Christ, about which a 
great deal ado is made in this part of country, some men are saved through 
fear.” The circuits of Lancaster, Pickaway, Sandusky, Crawford, Mansfield, 
Bristol and Columbiana, fared as usual. We have no reports of extraor- 
dinary works of grace there during the year. 

In the States of Indiana and Illinois, the fields of labor of the brethren 
extended more and more, although the increase of membership was but 
small in most places during the year. Mount Carmel mission, however, 
made an exception ; it had been established by the last Conference, did 
admirably well the first year, and at its close numbered nearly 100 mem- 
bers. As had been done on Waterloo mission in Canada, so the brethren 
did here, 7. e., they held a camp-meeting the first year, namely on the land 
of P. Dundor, who had emigrated to the West as a member of the Society. 
It consisted of 13 tents and was richly blessed, although the missionary, 
Bro. Christopher Augenstein, had no help in the pulpit, but a local preacher 
and an exhorter. The following year, Christian Lintner and Andrew 
Nicolai were sent there, and the following year Bro. Nicolai and George 
G. Platz. The mission continued to extend, and in 1845 its western part 
was converted into a circuit, called Mount Carmel circuit, while the eastern 
part, situated in the State of Indiana, was continued as Dubois mission, and 
also brought forth abundant fruit. 

The former Illinois mission was now called Rock River mission, in 
charge of Lewis Heiss. On Des Plaines circuit, served by Frederick Wahl 
and George A. Blank, a second richly blessed camp-meeting was held this 
year on the same spot, where one had been held the year before. It would 
seem, however, that the circuit neither increased nor extended much during 
the year. 

From what has been said, it is evident that Ohio Conference had for 
the last few years extended its borders remarkably, and was in a highly 
flourishing condition. 

The extraordinary revivals of religion and many conversions that took 
place in the years of 1842 and 1843, in the different Churches of the coun- 
try, seem to have been, to some extent at least, the effects of extraordinary 
causes, some of which may have been the following: 

1.—The hard times, caused by the complete prostration of commerce 
and the great scarcity of money all over the country, in consequence of 
which thousands became bankrupt, and tens of thousands were thrown out 


, 


346 HISTORY OF THE [1842, 


of employment, whereby many were reduced to abject poverty and even to 


want, 
2,—The prophecy of the Baptist preacher Miller, which was promul- 


gated by himself and his followers with the greatest boldness all over the 
country, that the second advent of Christ would speedily take place. The 
former of these two causes dampened the reigning spirit of worldliness and 
speculation to a great extent, and thus made room for serious thoughts on 
the subject of religion with many ; the second, by working on the principle 
of fear, may have induced many to seek the salvation of their souls. But 
the final consequences of this excitement were of a disastrous nature; 
Millerism, as a matter of course, falling into disrepute and contempt, its 
adherents were greatly perplexed ; some became skeptics and infidels, and 
vast numbers of those who had been induced, at least in part to reform 
their lives, by means of this new and greatly exciting doctrine, relapsed 
into the service of sin and Satan. The general excitement caused by Mil- 
lerism, was followed by an almost equally general indifference and apathy 
of most of the Churches, a consequence which, alas! the Evangelical Asso- 
ciation also shared, at least in some places. 

The increase during this year was 2,519, and the whole membership 
amounted to 13,025. The increase within the East Pa, Conference was 933, 
in the West Pa. Conference 1,007, and the Ohio Conference 579. The 
number of newly received members was, however, much larger, viz., in 
East Pennsylvania 1,361, West Pennsylvania 1,384, and Ohio 850— 
altogether 3,595. 

§ 229. A Trying Time for the Publishing House. 

Our Publishing House also was affected by the great financial crisis in 
the country. The German pocket Bible, the cost of which amounted to 
about $5000, became ready for delivery at that time; but as many of the 
subscribers were not prepared to make immediate payment, and as some of 
the other dues to the House were not paid, no dividend could be made at 
the close of the year for the several conferences. 

The stewardship of the House also passed into other hands at the 
opening of this conference year. Charles Hammer, who had filled that 
post for three years, resigned his office, and Thomas Buck was elected his 
successor. Thus Bro. Buck entered upon the duties of his office while the 
House was in rather critical and unpleasant circumstances, which greatly 
discouraged him, Like all others who never before had the office, so he 
found the duties of his new post far more onerous and difficult than he had 
imagined, and soon regretted having accepted it. The prospects of the 
House appeared to him rather gloomy, and he entertained strong doubts 
as to its future prosperity. These apprehensions, however, were owing to 
his want of acquaintance with the true state of things, and the business 
routine of the House ; real causes for them there were none, as the sequel 
proved. 


1842.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIA TION. 347 


But Bro. Buck’s cares and difficulties as General Agent were of but 
short duration. In May, 1842, he entered upon the duties of his new post, 
and on the 26th of October following he died. The stewardship was then 
given to William W. Orwig for the second time, which he held, together 
with the editorship of the paper until the session of the next General Con- 
ference, in the Fall of 1843. The general financial difficulties of the coun- 
try, and the want of proper arrangements and experience in collecting the 
moneys due for the Paper and books, were the real causes of the embar- 
rassment of the House ; but they soon changed for the better, and at the 
close of the following year a dividend of $1200 could be distributed among 
the several Conferences. Touching these difficulties of the House, the 
last number of Volume VI. of the Botschafter contains the following 
remarks :— 

“This has indeed been a year of trial for the Botschafter and our 
Publishing House generally. For we have not only had to struggle against 
great difficulties, arising out of the financial crisis of the country, which in- 
volved us in heavy losses; but death also appeared in our midst, and 
called one of our number from time into eternity. Yet we do not wish to 
murmur against Providence, but rather hope that everything will work for 
our best interests. We have, after all, great reason to thank God, the wise 
and gracious Ruler of all things, for the prosperity and success, which our 
House has been permitted to enjoy from its very start, five years ago, to 
this hour. The business capital has increased tenfold, and more than $3000 
have been divided among the several conferences.” 


§ 280. Biographical Sketches. 


This year the Association again lost four of its ministers by death, all 
of whom had been useful men, some eminently so. The deceased were: 
Thomas Buck, Adam Stroh, John Schaefer, and Abraham Frey. All of 
these brethren were, with the exception of Bro. Buck, in the prime of life, 
and might have served the Church many more years. But thus far only 
comparatively few of our itinerants have attained to old age—most of them 
who have died, departed as young men and in the prime of life, yea, many 
of them in the very first years of their itinerancy. Others who indeed 
lived longer, generally impaired their health for life in the same period of 
their ministerial calling. The causes of these disastrous consequences were 
various ; irregularity with regard to diet and lodging ; the frequent change 
of climate ; exposure to every kind of weather ; and the fatigues of difficult 
journeys and almost daily preaching, to which our itinerants were then more 
subjected than at present. For a man who is not accustomed to a life of 
such hardships, and in the absence of necessary instruction and care, to get 
along for any length of time without ruining his health or even losing his 
life, before his constitution became hardened, is almost a miracle. In this 
way the itinerancy of the Society formerly lost many of a most prom- 

9 


od © 


348 HISTORY OF THE [1842. 


ising men in their prime of life, and still meets with more or less similar 
losses. 

Of the exact time and circumstances of Bro. Buck’s conversion and 
calling to the ministry, nothing in particular is known. Bro. Buck was 
one of the most influential men of the Association of his time, and ranked 
as high as George Miller, John Dreisbach and Henry Niebel of former days, 
and John Seybert, Joseph Long and others of later days. In penetration, 
resolution and energy, he was inferior to none; superior, perhaps, to 
most of them. He was ofa highly choleric temper, stern gravity, had 
an uncommonly sharp sparkling eye, a penetrating look, and was rather 
reserved in ordinary conversation, and his whole appearance commanded 
reverence and respect ; bashful and timid persons were rather afraid of him, 
especially when he found it necessary to examine or censure them. At: 
times he was very reserved, then again very sociable and affable, and in his 
conversation with those who enjoyed his confidence, very frank. But woe 
to those in whom he placed no confidence ; in that case his remarks were 
often too harsh and even insulting. But whenever he learned that his 
judgment was wrong, or that he had treated any one with too great sever- 
ity, he hastened to heal the wound in some way or other, or to render 
satisfaction. 

His sermons were generally pointed, powerful and overwhelming, 
especially in his younger years. ' His favorite subjects were: the word and 
the commandments of God, faith, freedom from sin, and perfect holiness of 
heart and life. His discourses were for the most part, and often almost alto- 
gether, argumentative; and at times he became highly excited and severe. 
He generally drew the attention of his hearers, and but rarely failed to 
make a deep impression on them. (ainsayers were often filled with anger 
while he preached, and left abruptly, as many of old did, when our Saviour 
preached ; others again were powerfully shaken and humbled. He was 
fitted in an eminent degree to preach to professors of religion. Watching 
and praying, growing in grace, unfeigned brotherly love, the duties in the 
family, plain dress and a simple mode of living, liberality, and above all, 
holiness or Christian perfection, were generally the subjects of these dis- 
courses. But he belonged not to the number of those who believe that the 
Christian is fully sanctified simultaneously with being justified, but he 
preached the necessity of a further cleansing from indwelling sin, without 
which no one can see the Lord. 

For the confirmation of what we have just said of his views on this 
most important subject, we here quote a paragraph from one of his reports 
of his district, which he wrote about eleven months prior to his death ; it 
is as follows :— 

“ Pleasing as it is to see, that sinners are converted and to extend 
the hand of fellowship to the children of God, in order to travel with them 
to the heavenly Canaan; so lamentable it is, that Christians so rare- 


1842.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 349 


ly seek and obtain the sanctification of their souls. On reading the 
lives of preachers of former days, especially those of John Nelson and 
Benjamin Abbott, one is almost ashamed and led to believe, that 
in our days neither preachers nor members follow holiness, as they ought 
to do.” 

Whoever is but partially acquainted with the literature of the Metho- 
dists, knows that Nelson and Abbott fully agreed with Wesley and the 
first Methodist preachers generally, on the doctrine concerning holiness, 
The same view was held by Bro. Buck, and, in fact, by all the preachers of 
the Evangelical Association in his time. | 

In enforcing the Discipline, Bro. Buck was very strict, and, in the 
opinion of some, too severe. He but seldom showed favor to transgressors, 
especially if they were preachers ; and as his influence in the Conference 
was great, he was much feared by those who sometimes took wrong steps, 
or were carried away by levity. He was possessed of an extensive know- 
ledge of human nature, yet sometimes mistook persons, at first acquaintance 
with them, and thus was in danger of passing an unfavorable judgment— 
he scarcely ever overrated persons. Unsteady, noisy persons, conducting 
themselves improperly during divine service, were sometimes sharply 
reproved by him in public ; but lively, powerful services, conducted in the 
spirit, he advocated to the utmost of his power. 

With regard to cleanliness in every point of view, he had but few 
equals. His person, his dress, everything on and around him, had to be 
clean. But he preached cleanliness not only by his example, but often 
inculcated it in private, and even in public, as necessary to godliness. 
Cleanliness, order and punctuality, were three prominent traits of his 
character, which he also recommended to the preachers under him, and 
to all with whom he came in contact. Wherever he lodged, he left 
everything in the very best order, so as to save the family the trouble 
to clean or sweep after he had gone. In short, he was courteous, and knew 
how to conduct himself in any place. In his religious private duties, such 
as praying, reading, studying, fasting, etc., he was very exact and scrup- 
ulous ; as long as his health and strength permitted him to do so, he fasted 
regularly. 

From his time of serving as presiding elder to the election of a Bishop, 
he was elected chairman of his Annual Conference nearly every time, and 
he was also eminently fitted for that office. His love of order, vigilant eye, 
strong judgment, his commanding appearance and conduct, and his 
peculiar business tact, entitled him to that dignity before many others. 
His decisions touching questions of discipline were almost always 
acquiesced in. In conducting camp and other large meetings, he had but 
few equals. 

Bro. Buck was received into the itinerancy on trial by the Annual 
Conference of 1823, convened at Strassburg, York Co., Pa., and appointed 


350 HISTORY OF THE f1842. 


the colleague of John Dehoff on Somerset circuit. He was at that time a 
widower, and already over 30 years of age. At first he is said to have 
been but a weak preacher, but improved rapidly. In 1824 he and Conrad 
Kring became the colleagues of Philip Wagner on the circuits of Union and 
Center. In 1825 he was ordained deacon, and appointed preacher in charge 
of Lancaster circuit, Pa.; in 1526 he traveled on Schuylkill, and 1827 on 
York circuit. 

In 1828 he was elected presiding elder, and stationed on Salem 
district, consisting of the circuits of Union, Center, Somerset and Lake, 
the latter in the State of New York. The next year he was transferred to 
Canaan district, consisting of the circuits of Schuylkill, Lebanon, Lancas- 
ter, York, Franklin and Berkley, the latter in Virginia, and served two 


years there ; in 1831 he was transferred to Zion district, consisting of the - 


circuits of York, Franklin, Berkley and Somerset ; and after two years he 
was re-transferred to Canaan district, but served there only one year; for 
he married again during this year, and located at the next session 
of Conference, on account of family circumstances, after having served 
the Church five years as a circuit preacher and six years as presiding 
elder. 

In 1837, three years after his location, he re-entered the itinerancy and 
was stationed on Schuylkill circuit. The year following he was re-elected 
presiding elder, and stationed on Canaan district, where he served three 
years up to the Spring of 1842. Thus his itinerancy lasted 15 years. The 
General Conference of 1839, in Center County, Pa., elected him its chair- 
man, and in 1842, when he could not take another appointment on account 
of bodily infirmities, his conference retained him in the itinerancy, and gave 
him permission to travel and preach according to his convenience. Soon 
after he attended the session of West Pennsylvania Conference, beginning 
April 6th at New Berlin, and was, as already stated, elected General Agent 
of the Publishing House. 

In May following he removed with his family from Millersburg, Dau- 
phin County, Pennsylvania, to New Berlin, and entered upon the duties 
of his office in high spirits ; but finding more trouble and greater difficul- 
ties in the discharge of his new duties than he had imagined, his health 
which had been poor before, declined fast. He, however, did not complain 
much, but endeavored to fill his post as well as he possibly could, till on 
the 9th of Oct. following he was seized by severe cramps in the stomach, 
which caused an inflammation of the bowels, and after severe suffering, ter- 
minated his earthly career, October 26th. Bro. Buck spoke but little 
during his sickness, and said nothing about his spiritual condition— 
probably because no one had asked him abcut it—and he died, as it were, 
unexpectedly. He was, as above stated, rather taciturn, especially so when 
he was unwell, or where he was not intimately acquainted. This and his 
severe sufferings, as well as his extreme weakness and the heavy doses of 


Pe 


1842. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIA TION, 351 


stupefying medicines, that were administered to him, were doubtless the 
causes why he did not speak more during his sickness of his faith and trust 
in God; yet his tranquillity of mind, his entire freedom from any fear of 
death, and his whole conduct, proved abundantly that all was right with 
him. Thus died, in the firm hope of eternal life, and in the 53rd year of 
his life, one of the most efficient, and, in some respects, most useful 
preachers of the Evangelical Association, whose memory ought never to be 
forgotten. 

Adam Stroh was a vigorous and promising young preacher, talented, 
industrious, active, and very successful in his ministerial labors, but died 
at the early age of 25 years, 7 months and 17 days! About 84 years 
before his death, he was converted, when Bro. Buck traveled Wooster cir- 
cuit in Ohio Conference. About two years after he felt himself called to 
the Gospel ministry, but waited almost a whole year before he obeyed this 
eall. After he had traveled with Bro. Daniel N. Long about five months 
on Bristol circuit, Ohio, he attended the Conference for the first time, was 
received on trial, and stationed with George Dressel on Canton circuit. In 
1840, while yet a probationer, he was appointed preacher in charge of Lake 
circuit, Ohio, with John Hall for his colleague. This year he was led by 
an inward feeling to seek entrance in the city of Cleveland, for preaching 
the Gospel there ; he made the attempt, and succeeded in a rather extra- 
ordinary manner, as already stated. 

In 1841 he was ordained deacon, and appointed preacher in charge of 
Des Plaines circuit, in Illinois, with Christian Lintner for his colleague ; 
his labors there met the approbation of the people, and were crowned with 
success. Referring to his farewell sermon there, before a very large and 
solemn audience, in the Spring of 1842, Bro. John J. Esher writes thus, 
among other things: “ Bro. Adam Stroh’s valedictory discourse, which he 
delivered here, from Acts 20, 32: ‘And now, brethren, I commend you to 
God,’ etc., will never be forgotten by most of those who heard it. As if 
both the preacher and his audience had been aware, that this young and 
excellent watchman in Israel would so speedily be called from the walls 
of Zion, a preternatural, heavenly solemnity prevaded the whole assembly.” 
Ohio Conference, held in May, 1842, appointed him preacher in charge of 
White Water mission in the State of Indiana, with Franklin R. Tobias for 
his colleague. But here his health failed. His biographer, Nicholas Gehr, 
writes : 

“ He had scarcely labored four months on his new field of labor, and 
become acquainted with his people, when he was seized by a violent fever, 
which terminated his ministerial career and laid the foundation of a fatal 
disease. When the fever had apparently left him, the malady took another 
turn, passing into consumption, as his physician said. In this state of 
health he returned with his wife to his and her parents, and with the latter 
spent the greater part of the remainder of his life. I visited him and 


352 HISTORY OF THE [1843. 


conversed with him, He expected to recover, and others who saw him, 
entertained the same opinion. But what are our earthly hopes! How 
short, how uncertain is our life! The work of the fell destroyer progressed 
rapidly, his vital spirits fled, and soon—almost unexpectedly, his immortal 
spirit left its tenement of clay.” 


During his disease he looked forward, with composure and calmness, 
to the day of his departure, and left this world in the enjoyment of that 
hope which maketh not ashamed. He died April 2d, 1843, in Green town- 
ship, Summit County, Ohio, leaving his parents, brothers and sisters, and 
an afflicted widow with whom he had lived but 10 months in the bonds of 
matrimony. Thus a young and useful laborer in the vineyard of the Lord 
finished his earthly career, whose services were still so much needed by the 
Church. Why did he die so soon? This question eternity will probably — 
answer. His remains were buried in the grave-yard of the Evangelical 
Association near Greensburg, and Bro, Elias Stoever preached his funeral 
sermon from 2. Tim. 4: 7, 8. 


John Schaefer died March 8th, 1843, at Erie, Erie township, Pa., in 
the 27th year of hisage. The minutes of the Ohio Conference show that he 
was received by that body into the itinerancy on trial in 1840, and 
appointed the colleague of Bro. Jacob Frey on Bristol circuit. The follow- 
ing year he traveled with Peter Getz on Erie circuit. At the Conference 
of 1842 he was ordained deacon, and located on account of bodily infirmi- 
ties. He consequently served but two vears as an itinerant, and suffered 
much during the greater part of this period, on account of his shattered 
health. He impaired his health the very first Winter of his ministerial 
career, by preaching while he had a severe cold; in this way, as is 
supposed, he became consumptive, of which disease he died. He was use- 
ful in the Lord’s vineyard. On his death-bed he was composed and full of 
hope of eternal life. Bro. Abraham Niebel preached his funeral sermon, 
from Phil. 1, 21: “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” 


Abraham Frey, a resident of Richland County, Ohio, died of fever, 
January 29, 1843, in the 33d year of his age. He was brought up in 
Union County, Pa., and was converted there about 1830. In 1832 he was 
received by the Eastern Conference into the itinerancy on trial, and 
appointed the colleague of Elias Stcever on Indiana circuit ; the next year 
he became the colleague of Daniel Brickley on Somerset circuit ; the third 
year that of Charles Hesser on Cumberland circuit ; and the fourth year 
he traveled with John Lutz and George Seger again on Somerset circuit. 
At the close of the third year he was ordained deacon. Subsequently he 
traveled yet two years in the Western Conference, and served the remainder 
of his life in the capacity of a local preacher. He was not a very gifted 
orator, yet labored with success. On his death-bed he expressed the full 
assurance of being a child of God, and died in this happy frame of mind. 


1843.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION, 353 


§ 231. The Eighth General Conference—1848, 


This was the first General Conference consisting of regularly elected 
delegates ; it was also the best attended of any that had been held in the 
Evangelical Association and transacted the largest amount of business. It 
convened at Greensburg, Summit County, Ohio, and held its session in the 
Kv. Church of that place, lasting from October 23rd to November 2nd— 
11 days. 

There are several peculiar facts connected with the appointing of time 
and place for this Conference session, and as these facts cast considerable 
light upon the views and practice of the fathers with regard to the position 
of the then existing three Annual Conferences, and as they also constitute 
an important item in history, we insert the statement thereof, as follows : 

The General Conference of 1839 appointed the time and place of its 
next session by the following resolution :— 

“ Resolved, That the next General Conference shall be held on Tabor 
district in the Ohio Conference district, beginning with the first Mon- 
day in November, 1843.” 

Thus it remained until the session of the West Pa. Conference, April 
5th, 1843, which passed the following resolution without note or comment: 

“Resolved, That the General Conference shall commence on Wednesday, 
the 23rd of October, instead of the first week in November.’’ Thus this 
annual Conference changed the time, appointed by General Conference 
itself, by a simple resolution. The Ohio Conference which convened on 
the 10th of May, adopted and recorded the following resolution :— 

“ Resolved, That the General Conference shall be held on Canton cir- 
cuit in the Evangelical meeting-house at Greensburg, commencing with 
the 23rd of October this year.” There is no trace to be found in the 
record of the Hast Pennsylvania Conference of any transaction concerning 
this matter. 

Thus the West Pa. Conference changed the time for the session of 
General Conference in the coming Autumn, and the Ohio Conference coin- 
cided with that change and also appointed the place. General Conference 
had named Tabor district which was several hundred miles in extent, in 
several directions, and the Ohio Conference appointed the Ev. church at 
Greensburg on Canton circuit. The East Pa. Conference took no part in 
these proceedings. There is no reason given anywhere for the transactions 
of said two Conferences, and yet there must have been sufficient reasons 
existing, for we find that the General Conference assembled upon the time 
and at the place as fixed by these Conferences, without raising any objec- 
tion whatever. 

The question here arises: Was such a procedure legal? It would 
seem that General Conference itself had no doubt of its legality, for it 
practically ratified it by an obedient acquiescence in the resolutions of 
these two Conferences without saying a word against them. 


304 HISTORY OF THE {1843. 


An attempt has been made to show the legality in the following man- 
ner: Since 1817 there had been a sentence in the Discipline reading thus : 
‘Time and place of the General Conference shall be appointed by the bishop 
with the consent of the majority of the Conference, but if there be no 
bishop present, then the oldest Conference district shall do it through its 
Annual Conference.” But since 1839 there existed no oldest conference 
district nor oldest conference. The three conferences are historically of 
equal age, as has already been shown, but here two of these oldest confer- 
ences agreed as regards the change of time, and these two were a majority 
of the three. But then this does not remove the chief difficulties 7. e. that 
there was a bishop present, and that General Conference had already fixed 
the time for the next session. 

In consideration of these transactions the fact becomes the more re- 
markable that these two annual Conferences did these things without the 
East Pa. Conference and neither that Conference nor the General Conference 
objected. Practically it is a commentary which shows conclusively that 
neither any annual Conference nor the General’ Conference at that time 
regarded the Hast Pa. Conference as the “oldest conference”, having the 
special prerogative, which the old Eastern Conference exercised, in calling 
and appointing time and place for General Conferences. It shows also how 
strong was the bond of brotherly love and confidence, and also the strong 
practical bent of the fathers. Ji'is a very interesting item of our history. 
In addition to this, it should be said that the surviving members of the 
General Conference of 1839 and 1843, say that the three new conferences, 
created in 1839, were placed on equal footing in all respects. 

Bishop Seybert opened the session by devotional exercises and then 
appointed Absalom B. Schaefer as secretary, who then appointed Henry 
Fischer and Charles Hammer as assistants. After the organization was 
completed and the examination of the delegates finished, it was unanimously, 

Resolved, That out of respect for Bro. Charles Hesser, who died on 
his way to Conference by an accident, no business be transacted on the 
following Wednesday afternoon, and that the bishop shall preach the funeral 
sermon of the deceased. 

This resolution was carried out and great solemnity and deep sadness 
characterized the exercises. The news of Bro. Hesser’s death received on 
the day before the opening of the Conference, filled the delegates with grief 
and caused many tears, especially with those who had been closely asso- 
ciated with him and hence felt the loss more deeply. 

After many initiatory transactions Conference took up its regular 
business. The amendments to the discipline recommended by the annual 
conferences were generally adopted. They were chiefly: An amendment 
of the section defining the power of General Conference, of the rules for the 
admission of preachers, additions to the duties of classleaders and local 
preachers, etc. 


1843. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIA TION, 355 


The “Temporal Economy” was changed as follows : 

The salary of a single preacher was raised from $60 to $100, and that 
of a married one from $105 to $200, with $25 for every child under 14 
years, besides reasonable traveling expenses ; the salary of the officers of 
of the Printing Establishment was increased by $50 each ; better arrange- 
ments were made for the support of superannuated poor itinerants and 
their families, and many new rules were introduced into the Publishing 
House. 

The Annual Conferences, it was resolved, shall for the future be inde 
pendent of each other, with regard to the support of the preachers. Thus 
far all the preachers of the different conferences had received the same 
salary ; as in former years the conference that had collected the largest 
contributions, had to assist those which had fallen short ; and in the years 
immediately preceding this conference, these short coming conferences 
had drawn the more from the “Chartered Fund” and the proceeds of the 
Book Establishment. But after this, each conference had, in this respect, 
to take care of itself. 


These were important and necessary changes, which contributed largely 
toward the improvement of the itinerancy.* 


Another very important action of this body was its resolution that the 
Association shall hereafter pay more attention to the English portion of 
our population, endeavoring to preach the Gospel unto them, and to labor 
for their spiritual interests; as well as that it shall be lawful to form En- 
olish conferences, and to publish an English paper as soon as practicable. 
It was also resolved to enlarge our English hymn-book. This was very 
encouraging to the English portion of our preachers and members, and 


*) Since 1839 the 3 annual conferences were practically independent of each other 
with regard to the salaries of the preachers. The financial dependency of the former 
Western Conference upon the Eastern Conference ceased with the dissolution of those 
two conferences and the formation of the three new conferences out of their territory 
and membership. The East Pa. Conference distributed its surplus among her own 
preachers, and the other two conferences drew from the profits of the Publishing 
House to make up deficits in salary. This latter transaction was then ratified by this 
General Conference in the following manner, as the record shows: “‘ Moved by Henry 
Bucks and seconded by Jacob Boas, that the deficits of the preachers for the last two 
years in the Ohio and West Pennsylvania Conferences shall be supplied from th: 
profits of the Publishing House and the interest from the Charitable Fund.” (Gen. 
Conf. Record, p. 266.) 

Thereupon the matter of finances of the conferences for the future with reference to 
the dividends from the Publishing House and the interest from the Charitable Fund 
was regulated by the following resolution: ‘‘ Moved by Charles Hammer and seconded 
by George Brickley, and adopted by Conference, that the interest from the Charitable 
Fund and the profits from the Publishing House shall be divided equally among the 
different annual conferences, and that each annual conference shall provide for its 
own preachers, both itinerant and superannuated, with their families or widows and 
orphans.” (p. 266.) This provision is essentially still in force. (1893.) 


256 LST OLY BOP ILLES: [1843. 


contributed, as a matter of course, toward the more rapid increase of the 
same, It was especially the West Pennsylvania Conference, which pro- 
gressed more rapidly from that time, and in a few years it exceeded all 
other conferences in membership. 


But it was by no means the intention of General Conference, that the 
German population should be neglected ; it was, on the contrary, its firm 
conviction, that the Evangelical Association was called of God to take care 
of the Germans of this country, who were so grossly neglected by so many 
‘Churches of this country. 


This Conference ventured also, to express its views on the literary 
qualifications of the clergy, to recommend learning highly to all ministers 
and candidates for the ministry within its connection, and to lay down a . 
plan of studies for our young preachers. This was a strong move in a 
cause that had been neglected too long—not, indeed, from indifference, 
much less from contempt, but rather from the conviction that it was still 
too early for the Evangelical Association, to establish higher institutions 
of learning, numbering as yet but thirteen thousand members, and from 
fear of giving offence to some of our members and preachers, who, 
for reasons already given, underrated literary qualifications in the ministry 
too much. The latter looked upon the establishment of higher schools of 
learning as a dangerous innovation, full of mischief; yet their motives were, 
probably, as pure as those of the others who wished that the time might 
soon arrive to establish such institutions. Referring to this subject, the 
Botschafter, soon after the adjournment of Conference, contained the fol- 
lowing remarks :— 


“ Not one word was said about the establishment of a higher school of 
learning or college, which some seem to apprehend so very much. We 
doubt, whether a single member of General Conference expected that 
something would be done by that body in this matter, as everyone could 
easily satisfy himself that the proper time for us has not yet come.” Four 
years after there was, indeed, an attempt made, but failed, as was to be 
expected. Yet this step was by no means in vain, as the subject was 
thereby kept before the people and discussed. | 


§ 232. Declaration of General Conference concerning Erudition of the 
Ministry. 


The manifesto of the General Conference on this subject was as 
follows :-— 

“As the Evangelical Association is charged by many, though unjustly, 
with looking upon learning, or rather a classical education of the ministry, 
as altogether superfluous and useless, yea even as dangerous and injurious, 
and despising, for this reason, all higher institutions of learning ; this 
Conference feels itself called upon and under obligation, to declare and 


1843. | EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 3907 


express its views on this subject in public, and to repel thereby this false 
charge. 

“Tt is indeed true, that this Conference believes and teaches, that all 
human wisdom, learning and knowledge, without a divine call and the 
unction of the Spirit, qualify no man for the Gospel ministry ; and that a 
man, called of God to this office, and filled with the Holy Ghost and with 
power from on high, without great human learning, or as a comparatively 
illiterate man, can be a preacher of the Gospel and accomplish much good, 
if he fears God and is conscientious in the discharge of his duties. But 
notwithstanding this, the Conference acknowledges and maintains, that 
learning in the common acceptation of the term, or a classical education, is 
in many respects of great advantage to a man who is called of God to the 
Gospel ministry, and endowed with the Holy Ghost, and enhances his use- 
fulness ; or in other words, that he who has the divine unction, and great 
learning, can , in many instances, and even generally, accomplish far more 
in the vineyard of the Lord, and toward the conversion of the world and 
the spread of the Redeemer’s kingdom, than the unlearned man, though he 
may possess the same measure of divine unction and grace. 

“ Entertaining these views of the advantages of learning in a minister 
of the Gospel, this Conference recommends to all its candidates for the 
ministry, and to all its ministers generally, to take proper measures to 
store their minds with as large an amount of useful information, as they 
possibly can, or to endeavor to become learned and literary men, who have 
also the unction of the Holy Spirit.” 

JOHN SEYBERT, 
JosEPH Lona, 
ABSALOM B. ScHAEFER, Secretary. 

The Evangelical Association has not changed her view in this matter 

since that time, and, quite probably, will never change it. 


! Bishops. 


§ 283. Provisions with Regard to Certain Books. 


The subject of the History of our Church that had been acted upon by 
the last General Conference, but had scarcely begun to bud during the four 
intervening years, was resumed by this Conference, and met with somewhat 
better success. Bro. John Dreisbach was now appointed to write said his- 
tory, to be assisted by the Bishops and the presiding elders of the Church, 
by collecting and forwarding to him all materials within their reach. Bro. 
Dreisbach went to work, and the result of his labors was 15 sheets of 
common foolscap paper, of written matter, which no other man in the whole 
Church could have accomplished as well, he being better informed about 
the origin and first twenty years of the Association, than any other man 
living. 

Another measure of General Conference, was a resolution ordering the 
compilation and publication of a catechism, containing the fundamental 


358 HISTORY OF THE [1843. 


doctrines of Christianity, as they are taught in the confession of faith of 
the Association, for the instruction of the young. This work was assigned 
to Rev. William W. Orwig, but was not completed till 1846, and shortly 
afterward published. The appearance of this catechism filled some sister 
Churches with no little astonishment, as they had erroneously placed the 
Evangelical Association on an equal footing with some other denominations, 
who regard all catechisms and catechetical instruction as remnants of Babel, 
and, consequently, as dangerous and injurious. The origin of this wrong 
opinion has already been accounted for in a former part of this history. 
The catechism was afterward published also in English, but catechetical 
instruction had, hitherto, not been generally introduced into the connection. 
There was still some prejudice against it, on account of its abuse in some 
other Churches ; and too many of the preachers were negligent in recom- 
mending and introducing it. Others, having witnessed its salutary effects 
in the thorough conversion of many of their catechumens, while they were 
under instruction, were so much in favor of it, that they regarded its neglect 
as a remissness, that ought not to be overlooked any longer. 

Conference also ordered a new edition of George Miller’s “Practical 
Christianity’? (German) to be prepared. As the original was very 
defective in style and arrangement, Bro. William W. Orwig was instructed 
to revise and improve it. This little work had been highly esteemed in 
our Church, and deserves to be so still. It was written by George Miller, 
in 1811, but did not appear in print till 1814. It is the only devotional 
book written by a minister of our Church in its early times; it discusses 
practical Christianity in a very satisfactory manner, and ought, therefore, to 
be found in the library of every family of our connection, 

Furthermore, Conference ordered that our two German hymn-books be 
condensed into one, to be called “Kvangelisches Gesangbuch ” (Evangelical 
Hymn-Book), which was to be stereotyped with the small types of our 
pocket Bible; but, fortunately, this resolution was not carried out. To 
condense the two books into one, might perhaps not have been vat of place ; 
but to stereotype it in the manner indicated, would, at that time, have been 
a great error. 

The new officers of the Publishing House, Adam Ettinger and John 
C. Reisner, were appointed a committee to compile the new book from the 
two old ones: the “Sattenspiel” and the “ Viole”, and to prepare it for the 
press. But as the committee had not carried out its instructions at the 
meeting of the next General Conference, other arrangements were made, and 
the two books ordered to be published. And as it is always easier to find 
fault than to do better, there were not wanting those who were displeased 
with the new editions, as soon as they left the press; but, on the whole, 
they were favorably received. The books had undergone a thorough 
change ; many stanzas and parts of hymns, and even whole hymns that 
were particularly esteemed by some, were left out; and as the revising 


5843.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 359 


committee was not able to assign the reason for every change, omission and 
addition, and was, moreover, not infallible, nothing else could be expected 
than that some would find fault with the books. They, however, after- 
ward sold so readily, that the demands for them could sometimes not 
be met. 


§ 234, Officers of the Publishing House. 


William W. Orwig had been the Editor of the Periodical since the 
erection of the Publishing House, and also the General Agent since the 
death of Bro. Buck. But this Conference elected Adam Ettinger as Editor, 
and John C. Reisner as General Agent, and gave them William Bersch for 
an assistant. This brother having been employed for a number of years in 
the Publishing House, his services had become almost indispensable 
and were retained until his death. His connection with the Publish- 
ing House was regarded by himself as providential; for, soon after 
his conversion to God in the city of Philadelphia, he relinquished his 
business there, and removed, at the suggestion of Bro. Hesser, who was 
then stationed at Philadelphia, to New Berlin, with the expectation of 
finding employment in our Publishing House, which had just been started. 
Upon his arrival at New Berlin, Bro. Orwig received him, assigned him 
some rooms in the building of the Publishing House for his dwelling, em- 
ployed him at his own expense, in packing the Paper, reading proof, etc., 
and gave him Fletcher’s Appeal to translate into German. In this way he 
became acquainted with the business, and was, after a few years, employed 
altogether in the Publishing House. Thus he became thoroughly acquainted 
and practiced in all the branches of the business, so that his services could 
scarcely be dispensed with, especially at the frequent change of the officers 
of the Establishment. Ettinger and Reisner held their offices only four 
years, and the next General Conference elected new officers. 


§ 235. Election of Bishops. 


The territory of the Association having become too extensive for one 
Bishop to travel over, this Conference resolved to elect two Bishops, and, 
accordingly, John Seybert was re-elected, and Joseph Long* for the first 
time elevated to this highest office in the Church. The episcopal dignity 
in the Ev. Association, however, is scarcely enviable, and indeed is only 
nominal. 


*) Joseph Long was a very plain, tall, and stately person. God had endowed him 
with unusual talents for the office ofthe ministry. He was mighty in the Scriptures, 
and powerful as a pulpit orator. At this Conference he preached an extraordinarily 
unctuous sermon which contributed much toward his election to the episcopacy. He 
was always re-elected until his decease in 1869. 

Bishop Long entertained the same view as did his colleague, Bishop Seybert, of 
the greatness and importance of the episcopal office and realized the responsibility it 


360 HISTORY OF THE [1843. 


The influence of a Bishop of this communion depends, therefore, not 
on the dignity of the office, but on the incumbent’s qualifications for the 
office, the interest he takes in all institutions and enterprises of the Church, 
combined with his fidelity and zeal in the discharge of his duties. If he 
commands, in all these things, the general respect of the ministers and 
members, the way is open for him to exert not only a very extensive, but 
also a very salutary influence on the whole connection. But if he fails in 
one or the other of these items, his influence is proportionately less and his 
usefulness diminished.* 

Of his power in the Society no one need be afraid, as it is in some 
respects more limited than that of several other officers of the Church. The 
same is the case with his privileges. At the conferences he has to act as 
chairman, but has no right to vote, except when there is a tie, then he 
gives the casting vote. He is, however, since 1867, an ex-officio member 
of the General Conference and has the right to vote when not in the Chair. 
Whoever, therefore, seeks the office of a Bishop in the Ev. Association, de- 
sires indeed “a good”, but by no means desirable “ work.” 


imposes. After his election he soon started for East Pennsylvania, ‘‘over the moun- 
tains” as he says in his diary. As he was leaving his home in Columbiana County, 
Ohio, he entered once more the “ feed aisle” in his barn, ‘‘where God had so often 
heard his prayers,” cast himself upon his knees, and prayed with many tears to God 
for the “special sufficiency’ from on high, the need of which he felt so sensibly in 
order to discharge his official duties faithfully. He believed that God and the Church 
had entrusted this office to him and that its functions, duties and responsibilities were 
of immense bearing. A side-light indicating his views in this direction is given by a 
certain document which he issued some years afterward in the case of a change of a 
preacher from one presiding elder district to another, in the East Pa. Conference, 
which he sent to one of the presiding elders concerned, as follows: “In virtue of the 
office which God and the Church have entrusted to me, to benefit and not to destroy, 
I order,” etc., etc. Upon this he added the names of the respective preachers and 
fields of labor, involved in the case. 

For proper information concerning the functions of the Bishop's office among us, 
we refer the reader to the “ Special Duties of the Bishop” in the Discipline of the 
Ev. Association. That alone tells what the office involves. And certainly any can- 
did reader will, after a careful perusal of that section, be ready to exclaim: ‘Who is 
sufficient for these things?” 


*) Rev. William W. Orwig, who wrote these paragraphs originally, evidently draws a 
radical distinction between this ‘‘ highest office” in the Church and its “ dignity.” In 
this he is right. The highness or greatness of the office is found in its functions as 
prescribed and delineated in the book of Discipline under the question: ‘‘ What are 
the Special Duties of the Bishop?” Those duties are almost too great for any human 
being. But “dignity” as relating to an ecclesiastical office is in our Bishops almost 
nothing. In this prelatical sense the word means: rank, order, title, distinction, ete. 
Now the Bishops of the Ev. Association constitute no special order or rank, they are 
elected for four years only, they are not ordained as Bishops, they bear no special 
title, such as, “ Right Reverend,” ete., they wear no special dress, they have no espe- 
cial insignia about them—they are in these respects ‘‘like unto their brethren” in the 
ministry. 


1843. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 361 


§ 236. Formation of the Illinois Conference, 


The Ohio Conference whose territory had become very extensive, was 
relieved of its outlying fields in Indiana and Illinois, by the formation of a 
new Oonference called Jilinois Conference. This then was the fourth An- 
nual Conference. By this arrangement it became much easier and less ex- 
pensive for the preachers of both Conferences to attend their annual ses- 
sions and the work in the West received a powerful impetus, as from now 
on two presiding elders devoted their whole time to it, and the preachers 
generally became acquainted with all parts of the work much sooner. The 
time for the sessions of the Annual Conferences was changed and the 
Palestinian nomenclature of some presiding elder districts, such as “‘ Canaan,” 
“Zion,” “Salem” “Carmel,” and “Tabor” was exchanged for geographical 
names, and called, respectively, Harrisburg, Baltimore, Susquehannah, 
Allegheny and Columbiana. This change was sensible and practical, and 
thereafter only geographical names were used by the different Conferences. 


§ 237. A Delegation from the Methodist Episcopal Church. 


A delegation from the Methodist Episcopal Church, which had been 
appointed by the General Conference of that denomination in 1840, waited 
upon this Conference and presented proposals tending to relations of 
closer friendship between the two bodies, to enable them to lend each other 
mutual aid, battle with better success against the enemies of the Cross and 
labor for the temporal and spiritual welfare of the neglected Germans of 
this country. This delegation consisted of Reverends John F. Wright, 
N. Callender and William Nast. Only the two last named attended the 
Conference, however. They delivered an address on the subject of their 
mission, and presented a statement of their object in writing, praying that 
areply might be given them. We here insert this address as afterwards 
published in the Christliche Apologete: 


“To THE BISHOP AND THE GENERAL CONFERENCE OF THE EVANGELICAL 
ASSOCIATION. 


Dear Brethren :—From the official extract from the protocol of the 
General Conference of the M. E. Church, held in 1840, and from a certifi- 
cate drawn up by one of its secretaries, which two documents we hereby 
present to you, you will see that we are the delegates appointed by the 
proper authorities, to your General Conference. 

It is our first duty to present to your body the Christian salutation 
and sincere friendship of our General Conference, which represents, as you 
know, all the preachers and members of the M. EK. Church; and we would 
entreat you to receive our expressed assurance of high regard and esteem 
not as a mere compliment, but as the language of the heart, under the 
sacred influences of true friendship and religion. 


362 HISTORY OF THE [1843. 


You will also permit us to express the hope, that this will be only the 
beginning of a lasting friendly relation between the two bodies, whereby 
the best interests of both may be promoted, and other important advan- 
tages secured. We are fully persuaded, that a firmly established friend- 
ship between the Evangelical Association and the M. E. Church will be 
attended with the blessed effects of opposing the common -enemies of true 
Christianity more effectually, and of promoting the interests of a pure and 
undefiled worship with greater success. 

We agree in doctrine, and our disciplines, constitutions, and customs, 
resemble each other so much, that the Evangelical Association was, in 
many places, called by the people, for a long time, the “German Metho- 
dists.” Our faith and our institutions have, for this reason, the same 
enemies. We likewise firmly believe, that we have the same ends in view, © 
viz., the glory of God and the salvation of immortal souls. We, there- 
fore, extend to you the right hand of fellowship, and beg of you to unite 
your strength with ours in some way or other that we may discuss and 
agree upon, in order that the great cause of our Redeemer may be pro- 
moted. 

However, desirable it might be, that all Germans, who are Methodists 
in doctrine, experience, discipline, and customs, should enter into the same 
organization and bear the same banner; there are, at present, undoubtedly, 
too many impediments in our way to become one in name ; but we see no 
solid reason, why we should not be one in truth and in deed, so that we may 
strengthen each other’s hands, to-wit :— 

1. By a publicly recognized relation of friendship, similar to that 
which has existed in some places between the Lutherans and Reformed, 
and has led to the use of a common Hymn Book. Such an understanding 
would be attended with blessed effects, and especially prevent our interfer- 
ing with each other in our fields of labor. 

2. By acting in concert in publishing the standaad works of Method- 
ist theology, as for instance the sermons of Wesley, a systematic statement 
of our articles of faith, and a commentary on the Bible. We doubt not 
that arrangements could be made, by which we might lend each other eftec- 
tual aid in publishing books, without any disadvantage arising therefrom 
to either party. Providence has led several individuals into our ranks, 
whose services in the performance of the necessary literary works would be 
important; yet as the number of our German members is too small, and 
hence our support too limited, we would not be prepared as yet to venture 
upon the publication of any of the named larger works. 

For the last eight years the M. E. Church has directed its attention 
with tender concern and increasing interest to the German immigrants, who 
are swelling the population of our country. This field is already white to 
harvest, and an important object of our mission 1s, to seek the assistance 
of your Revd. body, or to ask leave to offer you our assistance, 1n cultivat- 


1843. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIA TION. 363 


ing this important missionary field. Our Church has entered upon that 
field, in obedience, as we believe, to a direct call of God who, by the most 
remarkable openings of his providence, has led us from step to step, and, 
as it were, compelled us by the force of circumstances. The eminent suc- 
cess which has crowned our labors, fully justifies the belief that the hand 
of God is in the work, and his blessing resting upon us. 

Since the Fall of 1838, the number of our German members has risen 
from 24 to 2,000, and there are now 24 German itinerants laboring in our 
midst. We have already built 14 (German) churches. Multitudes of pre- 
cious souls meet there from time to time, worshiping God according to our 
customs, and offering up their prayers and thanksgiving in the German lan- 
guage. Many of them were once Papists, and paid Roman priests for the 
forgiveness of their sins; ‘but having been justified by faith, they now 
have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, and rejoice in hope 
of the glory of God.’ All this has been accomplished in the short period 
of eight years. ‘This is the Lord’s doing, aud it is marvelous in our 
eyes.’ 

We now have, dear Brethren, discharged our solemn duty, as dele- 
gates of the General Conference of the M. E. Church, by laying before you 
the great enterprise, upon which we have entered. We now leave our pro- 
posals with you, hoping that you will take them into careful consideration ; 
and whatever may be the result of your deliberations on them, we would 
respectfully ask you to return us an answer in writing, in order to lay it 
before our next General Conference, which will meet in the city of New 
York, May 1, 1844. 

Our prayer is, that the Great Head of the Church may be with your 
General Conference, and his Spirit guide you in all your deliberations, so 
that all your resolutions may meet his approbation, and be crowned with 
his blessing. May you and all members of your Church be led in safety 
through the toils and sufferings of this life, and finally be received into 
heaven with all believers of every name and description, to inherit eternal 
life through Jesus Christ! Amen, 

We remain, in the bonds of love and with great respect, 


Dear Brethren, 
Yours in Christ, 
J. F. Wricat, 


N. CALLENDER, 
Wm. Nast.” 


To this address, our General Conference returned the following reply, 
as drawn up by a committee for that purpose. 
“To THe DELEGATES OF THE GENERAL CONFERENCE OF THE M. KE. 
CHURCH. 


Dear Brethren:—In compliance with the request expressed in your 


written address, we return to you the following reply :— 
24 


364 TTI STOR VNOL MLL [1843. 


We feel ourselves under obligation to you for your friendly salutations 
and expression of fraternal regard for us, and do sincerely wish that you 
may not be disappointed in your expectations that this will be but the 
beginning of a lasting friendly relation between your Church and ours, 
We fully agree with you, that there are strong reasons why we should en- 
deavor to unite our mutual influence as much as possible, in fighting 
against the enemies of the Cross, and in laboring for the reformation of the 
Germans of this country. We also entertain the same views you have ex- 
pressed on the character and condition of the German immigrants in gen- 
eral, and are, therefore, perfectly willing and ready, to extend to you the 
right hand of fellowship, and to do, on our part, what we possibly can, in 
order to secure their temporal and everlasting welfare. Although we 
neither go by the same name nor belong to the same organization, yet it | 
will afford us pleasure to enter with you into friendly relations, so that we 
may labor together in harmony and Jove, without hindering each other in 
the least, in carrying forward the great work which the Lord has assigned 
us. But in order to realize this end, it will be necessary for us to use the 
utmost care, to act harmoniously in enforcing the Discipline of the Church, 
and in reproving sin of every shape and description. We are of opinion, 
that it will be especially necessary for us to be on our guard, not to take 
advantage of each other, wherever the two Churches may meet in the 
prosecution of their work, nor to receive members that have been excluded 
by the other Church for immoral conduct, until such individuals have be- 
come reconciled to their Church and bring a testimony to that effect. 
Whether it would be best for both of us to build, like the Lutherans and 
the Reformed, union-churches, and to introduce a common Hymn-Book, 
we do not presume to decide; we doubt, however, that any real advantage 
would be gained thereby for the realization of our great object. 


A union for the purpose of publishing good German books, would be 
highly desirable ; but our book establishments being at so great a distance 
from each other, we do not see how this could be effected in any other way, 
than by a mutual agreement to exchange and take each other’s books on 
commission, etc.* 

We rejoice that God’s blessings have rested upon your labors among 
the Germans, and wish that this may be still more so hereafter. It will 
likewise afford us pleasure to contribute hereafter, in Christian fellowship 
with you, much toward the amelioration of the condition of the Germans, 
by the blessing of God resting upon our united labors. Our earnest prayer 
is, that the Great Giver of every good gift may fill us all with his Spirit, 


*) In our time it reads curiously that the two Publishing Houses were too far apart, 
in order to issue books jointly, but in those days there were no railroads nor tele- 
graphs between the two towns, New Berlin, Pa., and Cincinnati, O., and the mail ser- 
vice was very deficient. No doubt the proposed issue of theological books, ete., 
would have been very advantageous for both denominations. 


1843.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 365 


sanctify and lead us into all truth, and finally take us with all the elect into 
his heavenly kingdom, for his Son’s sake! Amen. 
Respectfully, 
Your Brethren, 
JOHN DREISBACH, 
JouHN C. REISNER, 
ADAM ETTINGER, 
Wituiam W. Orwia, 
CHARLES HAMMER. 
Summit Co., 0., October 25, 1843. 


The public initiative toward this official conference on the subject in 
question, was a resolution of the General Conference of the M. KE. Church, 
which was published in the “Christian Advocate and Journal,” and 
copied with comments in the Christliche Botschafter. The resolution in 
question was as follows :— 

“Since some of the leading men of the Evangelical Association, com- 
monly called ‘ Albrights,' have expressed a wish to maintain a friendly in- 
tercourse with the M. EK. Church, and taken a deep interest in our plans and 
efforts to advance the best interests of the many German immigrants that 
settle in our country ; therefore, 

Resolved, That a delegation of three be appointed by the bishops of 
this conference, whose duty it shall be to attend their next General Confer- 
ence, and impart to them our fraternal salutation and sincere friendship ; 
and that the said delegates be likewise authorized to confer with that body 
on the prospects of circulating our German periodicals and other works 
among them, and on any other subject that has reference to the great in- 
terests of the Huropean or native Germans of our country.” 

From the comments of the Botschafter on this resolution we quote the 
following :— 

“ The respect and friendship shown us by the General Conference of 
the M. EK. Church in the above resolution, deserve our consideration, and 
ought to be regarded and treated by us as a token of their Christian and 
fraternal disposition toward us; and, whereas their doctrines, ecclesiastical 
polity, and mode of operation, have, from the beginning, been essentially 
ours, for which reason we have felt a stronger attachment to them than to 
others ; and as they have of late also commenced to labor among the Ger- 
mans, we ought now to endeavor the more to maintain a friendly inter- 
course with them, and to take all proper measures, in order that we may 
labor in unison with them for the spiritual interests of the many thousands 
of German immigrants and others, who have hitherto been neglected, and 
thus help to build up the kingdom of God. Such a friendship and union 
between them and us, appear to us, under the present circumstances, to be 
indispensably necessary. We shall, in all probability, in our future labors 
among the Germans, meet in some places; and as we have the same doc- 


366 HISTORY OF THE [1843. 


trines and mode of operation, it will be the more necessary to guard on 
both sides against over-reaching each other ; because from such conduct of 
professed Christians the cause of Christ has been, at all times, and still 
is suffering very much.” 

The correctness of the views here expressed, has since been abundantly 
proved ; but the desired friendship and mutual foresight and peaceable- 
ness have, alas! in many individual cases, been too frequently violated. 
Time and again, when the ministers of the two Churches happened to labor 
on the same field or in the same place, especially in the West, collisions 
have taken place, which caused unpleasant feelings. We express, however, 
the sincere wish that nothing of the kind may take place again. There is 
still a peaceful relation between the two Churches, and we hope it will ever 
be sustained. 


The resolution of the General Conference of the M. E. Church, in- 
duced some to think that the object was to bring about a formal union of 
the two Churches, although the document itself was silent about it. 
Whether this opinion was well-founded or not, we are not prepared to say ; 
but certain it is, that many members of both Churches have since ex- 
pressed their regret that no stronger efforts were made to bring about a 
union, at a time when its realization might have been possible. And some 
would still be in favor of such a union, if they could only see how it might 
be done.* 


*) Rev. William Nast, D.D., who was the leading member of this delegation, has been 
called, in a denominational sense, the ‘ Father of German Methodism.” He came to 
America from Wurtemberg, Germany, in 1828, and was converted among the Me- 
thodists, after a severe penitential struggle, in 1835. He then felt constrained to 
labor as @ missionary among the Germans in Cincinnati and its surroundings, who 
were mostly fresh immigrants, in order to lead them to repentance and conversion. 
The Methodist Church which had until then labored exclusively among the English 
speaking population, now appointed Mr. Nast as their German Missionary. This took 
place in 1835. Dr, Nast at that time had no knowledge of the Evangelical Associa- 
tion and its operations. He had already received his appointment as missionary, and 
the publication of the Christliche Apologete had been ordered when he learned who 
and what the Evangelical Association was. Then he went to New Berlin, Pa., to visit 
our young Publishing House and become acquainted with its officers and obtain fuller 
information about the Evangelical Association. He was at once of one heart and 
mind with the brethren there, with reference to the urgent necessity of doing mission- 
ary work among the neglected Germans in this country.—He then continued his labors 
in preaching and writing. In the latter respect he was particularly well-qualified to 
take up the battle against the learned rationalists in which field he showed himself a 
Knight-errant indeed. God blessed his labors among the Germans, whose needs were 
quite well-understood by him. The Apologete whose editor he continued to be for 
more than fifty years, commenced in 1839 with 40 subscribers numbers now (1892) 
over 19,000, and the German Methodists have become a host of about 70,000 members— 
with promising prospects for the future. God has intended salvation for the Germans 
in America, When immigration became so strong that the Evangelical Association 
could not keep pace with it, the Lord called still other laborers into this harvest. . 


1843. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIA TION. 367 


These were the main acts and proceedings of this General Conference, 
although it passed, in all, 107 resolutions, many of which required a great 
deal of time for discussion, and much labor for their enactment. The re- 
sult of most of these resolutions has been very good. 

This Conference was closed with much solemnity, as the record states, 
as follows: 


“The Conference was closed by the newly-elected Bishop Joseph Long 
with prayer; and ino token of willingness and approval of all the above 
items and resolutions of these Conference proceedings each member pres- 
ent signed his name to them. Signatures ;—John Seybert, Joseph Long, 
John Dreisbach, Philip Wagner, George Brickley, William W. Orwig, 
Charles Hammer, John C. Reisner, Francis Hoffmann, Adam Ettinger, 
Jacob Boas, Michael I’. Maize, Daniel Kehr, John Geo. Zinser, John J. 
Kopp, William Muenz, Henry Bucks, Michael Lehn, Joseph M. Saylor, 
Abraham Niebel, Henry Langbrecht, Lewis Hinsel, Jacob Saylor, Jacob 
Frey, Henry Rohland, George Mattinger, Adam Kleinfelter, Henry Hassler, 
Elias Stoever, John P. Leib, Aaron Yambert, Henry Fischer, Absalom B, 
Schaefer—33.” 


§ 238. Impressions Made by This General Conference upon Dr. William Nast 
and Rev. John Dreisbach. 


What impressions were received by Rev. William Nast with reference 
to the General Conference, we learn very distinctly from his editorial report 
in the Christliche Apologete of November 20, 1843, as follows : 


“On the morning of the 23rd of October the American-German Bro. 
Holloway brought us from Ravenna to Greensburg, Ohio. The Conference 
held its session in the Evangelical Church situated about one mile from the 
village. In accordance with the simplicity, industry, and diligence peculiar 
to the Germans, the brethren had made arrangements that ali the members 
of Conference take their dinner and supper at the house nearest to the 
Church, The necessary provisions were brought thither by the members 
living in the surrounding neighborhood. Each evening the preachers are 
being sent to new places of lodging for the night, so that the members 
have the opportunity to become acquainted with all the preachers.’— After 
Dr. Nast had mentioned the great sadness that came upon the Conference 
by the unexpected death of Charles Hesser and the unctuous sermon by 
Bishop Seybert on Acts 11, 24, he continues thus: “We arrived on Mon- 
day afternoon when the session was about being closed and were received 


Both Churches are united in spirit, and scarcely a valid reason can be assigned why 
they should not be also united organically—-but a number of them might be given in 
favor of it. Atany rate let us hope and pray that these two denominations, as true 
sister churches—so much alike in doctrine, discipline and customs—may peaceably 
and successfully prosecute their labors, crowned with the blessings of the Great Head 


of the Church. 


368 HLS TOL POL MILLS (1843. 


in a very friendly manner. Next morning we were presented to Conference 
and requested to deliver our message. * * * * We became convinced 
more than ever before of the oneness that exists among all true followers 
of Christ. It is a pity, however, that this really existing unity is not con- 
fessed and definitely expressed, more frequently. * * It is highly desir- 
able for the unity of the different Christian denominations that a full and 
hearty acknowledgment of the common divine sonship in which they stand, 
be made and one result of such recognition would be a friendly co-opera- 
tion in the conversion of the world without infringing upon the work which 
divine Providence has given each one todo. * * * * May the preach- 
ers and members of these two Churches realize that we are baptized by the 
same Spirit into one body, yea, that we belong to one family and are related 
most intimately to each other !—The Evangelical Association is a worthy — 
daughter of the Methodist Church, and though not bearing the name, she 
has imparted the doctrines and principles of Methodism, in their purity 
and power, to the German people. May we, as her younger brethren, who 
bear the name of the mother, show ourselves as worthy of our origin in 
walking in the foot-steps of our fathers, with all earnestness, self-denial, 
full of the Holy Spirit, in continual fellowship with God growing in knowl- 
edge and wisdom, and in being an ornament to the Gospel also outwardly 
in speech, demeanor, and dress !—All these virtues I observed exist in a 
high degree, in these men of God who constitute the General Conference, 
and the feelings of intimate love and high respect which I always cherished 
toward the Evangelical Association were renewed and increased by the per- 
sonal acquaintance with delegates of their General Conference.” 

Bro. John Dreisbach described his impressions and emotions during 
this session of Conference in a letter to the editor of the Christliche Bots- 
chafter, in the following interesting manner : 

“ Dear Bro. Orwig! Ihope you arrived safely at home from the Gen- 
eral Conference, being now engaged again in preparing the Christliche 
Botschafter, filled with an abundance of acceptable and useful news for its 
readers. We are also with our dear family again after a difficult but safe 
journey, and found them all well. God, our heavenly Father, be praised ! 
But since I am home again I have been ailing, for which reason I have not 
written sooner. Ido wish—if I only could !—to communicate to the friends 
of Zion the impressions I received at General Conference. Here were 
thirty-two delegates assembled—excepting the Bishop—one-fourth of the 
ordained ministers of the Hvangelical Association, who are all spiritual 
children of our Zion, that is to say, they have been awakened, converted 
and promoted to the ministry through the service of the Gospel in our 
Church. Praise ye the Lord! Yes, my friends, here I was among these 
delegates—men of God—preachers, of whom no Church in Christendom 
would need be ashamed, but would rather have good reason to boast. 
Oh, how my heart melted with humble gratitude to God for his work of 


1843. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 369 


grace in the Hvangelical Association; although planted by Him, like a 
mustard seed, she has grown to a tree full of branches, although herself 
only a branch of the General Christian Church, to bless the Germans of 
our country. There, among these brethren, I remembered especially the 
past—the time when in 1806 I found the peace of God and joined the 
Kvangelical Association. At that time the whole number of members was 
but 120. And in 1807, when, cn the 6th of November, I yielded to the 
Divine call to become an itinerant preacher, the number of traveling preach- 
ers was only 5, namely Jacob Albright, John Walter, George Miller, and 
myself, newly-received on probation, and J. F., who did not hold out long. 
Albright preached but three or four times after that and died in about six- 
months. Charles Bissey, Jacob Philips, Solomon Miller, sen., and Christo- 
pher Spangler were the local preachers—all young beginners. We had two 
circuits, the first was called Lancaster Circuit and extended along the Blue 
Mountains from the vicinity of Harrisburg unto near Easton, through the 
counties of Dauphin, Lebanon, Lancaster, Berks, Bucks, Northampton, 
Lehigh, and Schuylkill in Pa. The other was called Shamokin and ex- 
tended through the counties of Northumberland, Union, Center, and Mifflin 
in the same State. These two were our first fields of labor on which we 
traveled interchangeably under many hardships, preaching the Gospel of 
the Crucified One. We met with great difficulties, were scoffed at, stigma- 
tized by libelous publications, often we were stoned, and clubbed. Rotten 
eggs, yea, mud were thrown at us!—Thus we were treated by the rabble ; 
but also some of the more respectable people looked upon us as being 
seducers of the people or self-willed fanatics. To endure all this required 
much faith, love, and patience, to be sought and obtained by earnest 
prayer, and supplication with tears from Him who promised never to leave 
us nor forsake us. We were so strengthened, however, that we could say : 
‘The Lord is my helper, I will not fear what man shall do unto me.’ Who 
would then have thought that this despised little flock, this down-trodden 
little worm, would yet occupy so extensive a territory and spread in such 
manner as we see it to-day? ‘This is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvel- 
ous in our eyes ; this is the day which the Lord hath made, we will rejoice 
and be glad in it; save now, I beseech thee, O Lord, send now prosperity.’ 
I was exceedingly pleased to see the forbearance, brotherly love, and res- 
pect among the brethren to observe, consequently, the evident blessing and 
peace accompanying the proceedings of the Conference ; and also the im- 
provement of the Conference rules for the more systematic dispatch of the 
business but more especially the unctuous preaching—oh, how I enjoyed it 
all ! 

“ But oh, how I felt humbled because of my inactivity, and how unfit 
and weak I felt in body and poor in spirit! But God gave me grace to 
rejoice in his work among my brethren, and I believe that he will ‘not cast 
me off in the time of old age nor forsake me when my strength faileth, 


370 HISTORY OF THE [1843- 


until I have showed thy strength unto this generation and thy power to 
every one that is to come.’ Psalm 71, 9-18. ‘Blessed be the Lord God, 
the God of Israel, who only doetb wondrous things, and blessed be his 
glorious name for ever, and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; 
Amen and Amen!’ Psalm 72, 18-19. Oh, ye friends of the Lord; it is 
good to trust in the Lord and not rely upon men. He is a shield to all who 


trust in him! Hallelujah !— 
JOHN DREISBACH. 


Pickaway Township and County, Ohio, Nov. 22nd, 1843.” 


From the foregoing testimonies it is evident that this session of Gen- 
eral Conference was attended with special blessings from the Great Head 
of the Church. | 


§ 239. The Annual Conference Sessions. 


The Annual Conferences of this year took place as follows: East 
Pennsylvania Conference met in Lebanon, Pa., on March 22d; West Penn- 
sylvania Conference in the Leathart Springs Church, North Middleton 
Township, Cumberland County, Pa., April 15th, and that of Ohio in the 
church in Thompson Township, Seneca County, Ohio, May 10th. Three 
itinerants located, and 17 were received on trial. Hleven were ordained as 
elders, and 14 as deacons. Some of the larger circuits were divided, anda 
number of new circuits and stations formed ; several missions were changed 
into circuits, and new missions established at Pittsburg, Dayton, Chicago, 
and Milwaukee, The rich harvest of the previous year had extended the 
limits of the Association considerably, and greatly increased the labors of 
the itinerancy. 

This year the work again extended considerably, and in some places 
great awakenings took place; but, although nearly 2,400 new members 
were received during the year, the net increase was not quite 800; the 
Society must, consequently, have lost 1,600 members this year—a fact we 
can hardly account for. This heavy loss was, undoubtedly, to a great 
measure owing to the re-action of Millerism, which, however, cannot have 
been the sole cause. The fault must lie somewhere else; and it is prob- 
able, that want of proper attention to the new converts, is one of the main 
causes of the heavy loss of members, that takes place annually. The loss 
exceeds the net increase almost every year; this year it amounted to more 
than half of it. In the frequent changes of our ministers, we opine to find 
another cause of this deplorable phenomenon; for it often happens that 
the most conversions take place, and the greatest number of new members 
are received, toward the close of the preacher’s ministerial labors on a cir- 
cuit or station, many of whom are ensnared again by the world or by 
Satan, before the arrival of the new preacher; while others, not feeling as 
strongly attached to the new minister as to the old, by whose instrumen- 
tality they were converted, grow cold again by degrees, so that ere long 


1843. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 371 


scarcely any fruit is left of great awakenings ; especially if the succeeding 
minister is careless about making pastoral calls, and attending to the lambs 
of the flock. This is a disadvantage connected with the itinerant system, 
which cannot be questioned. By greater carefulness, however, more regular 
visits, and a deeper interest in the welfare of immortal souls, this evil 
might. be remedied to a great extent; especially, if every minister, on en- 
tering upon his new field of labor, would make it his special duty to call 
on the new converts, in order to become acquainted with them, and to gain 
their confidence, and, on the whole, treat them with marked attention anc 
distinction. 


§ 240. Successful Missionary Work. 


Although the increase of this year was inferior to that of the year be- 
fore, yet the boundaries of the Association were considerably extended, a 
number of new preaching places were taken up, a large number of new 
classes formed, and many of the old ones were considerably increased. 
The missions, especially, did very well. In the city of New York and at 
Germantown, within the East Pennsylvania Conference, the work gained a 
solid footing; although it had, in the former place, to struggle against 
great difficulties, arising mainly out of the building of a church. The mis- 
sions of the West Pennsylvania Conference at York and Pittsburg, were 
abundantly blessed of God. Levi Eberhart was the first missionary in the 
city of Pittsburg, and labored there for two years with great success. He 
arrived there on the last day of April, 1843, immediately commenced his 
labors among the Germans, and as early as the following Whitsuntide an 
attempt was made to organize a society. He shortly after rented a large 
hall in the old court house, and preached there three times a week, and 
once in Allegheny City. The number of hearers increased from time to 
time, and the prospects of the enterprise were bright before the close of 
the first year. Bishop Long visited the mission in December, and made 
the following remarks with regard to it: ‘The prospects of this mission 
are very promising ; it is, however, to be regretted that we have no church 
of ourown. * * * * The hall in the court house is already too small for 
the number of hearers who would like to attend our meetings.” <A consi- 
derable number of precious souls had, at that time, been converted to the 
Lord, and at the end of the conference year the society numbered 32 mem- 
bers. The next year they built a small church on Hand-street, but became 
thereby involved in debt, and great difficulties were the consequence ; and 
yet the new church was neither large enough, nor conveniently located. 
But as a number of extensive revivals took place from time to time, the 
society increased and acquired strength by degrees. 

The new mission at Dayton in the Ohio Conference, and several of the 
others in the far West, especially the Mount Carmel and Fort Wayne mis- 
sions, prospered greatly. At Chicago and Milwaukee the work advanced 


372 HISTORY OF THE [1843. 


gradually, although no considerable awakenings took place during this 
year, 

Thus far the annual contributions had covered the missionary ex- 
penses; but as their number now began to increase rapidly, the treasury 
of the missionary society soon became involved in debt, against which it 
had to struggle for a number of years. But, as the conferences which con- 
tracted the debts, also held themselves responsible for their payment, this 
matter was of no importance, and caused the parent board no further 
troubles. It ought to be stated here that, although all the Annual Confer- 
ences had formed themselves into branch societies of the parent society, 
yet each conference kept its contributions in its own treasury, and also ap- 
plied them. This was not in accordance with the constitution of the parent 
society ; but, as it bade fair to be most liberally supported, and to pro-. 
mote the good cause most efficiently for the time being, it was not objected 
to. But in the course of time a change of this state of things became 
necessary. 


§ 241. Success on the Circuits. 


In the East Pennsylvania Conference the circuits of Lancaster, Leikens, 
Womelsdorf and, above all, Lehigh, seem to have prospered most. The 
particular places and parts of country, however, where the greatest success 
attended our labors, are, with a few exceptions, not mentioned in the pub- 
lished reports of those circuits, 

A rather extensive revival took place in Mahantango Valley, in the 
neighborhood of Hepler’s ; another in Meyerstown, Lebanon County, where 
arrangements were made for the erection of a church. In 1837, D. Klapp 
removed from Orwigsburg to Meyerstown, and our ministers preached reg- 
ularly in his house. In 1839 a fine class was formed there, and from that 
time the work gained a solid footing. Upon the whole, the work in the 
North did not progress as finely as it had done in the preceding years ; yet 
it advanced gradually, especially in several places. 

In the West Pa. Conference the following circuits had most success : 
Center, Perry, Cumberland, York, Virginia, Bedford, Clarion, Lycoming, 
Gettysburg, and Somerset. On Center circuit the number of new converts 
was 116. Glorious awakenings took place at Millheim, Penn’s Valley, and 
Rebersburg, in Brush Valley and vicinity, and other places of the circuit. 
Perry circuit reported 90 newly received members ; it had the services of 
but one preacher, Bro. James Dunlap. 


The principal work of grace seems to have taken place at Milford, 
where arrangements were forthwith made to build a church. In Kingston, 
on Cumberland circuit, the work had begun the year before, and this year 
already a church was built ; another was built at Leesburg. On York cir- 
cuit a camp-meeting was held this year, which numbered 60 tents, and not 
less than 40 souls were converted, most of whom joined our Church. The 


1843.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIA TION. 373 


camp-meetings that were held this year, during the latter part of Summer, 
were, on the whole, highly blessed and victorious ; while those held in 
the forepart, were not as good as usual. 

In Ohio Conference the Fort Wayne mission reported 66 newly received 
members, Mount Carmel mission 50, Pickaway circuit 54, and that of 
Sandusky 51. All the other circuits and missions fell short of 50; Canton, 
Mansfield, Crawford and Miami, however, came nearly up to this number. 
On the whole, this Conference held this year the second rank among the 
three conferences, in point of newly received members. 

The Des Plaines and Rock River circuits in the State of Illinois, the 
former served by Christopher Kopp, and the latter by Levi Heiss and 
John G. Miller, together reported 79 newly received members and in all 
298. But a new district having been formed this year out of these two cir- 
cuits and the missions at Chicago and Milwaukee, ministered to by Samuel 
Baumgartner, there were brighter anticipations indulged in for the future, 
and also realized. 

This year our second church was built in the State of Illinois, viz., at 
Naperville, Dupage County, and the first commenced in Wisconsin ; this is 
also said to have been the first German Protestant church in that State. At 
Chicago likewise a church was built this year and dedieated, which was 
also the first German Protestant church of that city, and for a number of 
years the only one. Our society is likewise the oldest German Protestant 
congregation there, and was the only one for about five years. 

At that time certain would-be Lutheran ministers forced themselves 
upon the Germans of Wisconsin ; but they deserved not that name, on ac- 
count of their immorality, bigotry and intolerance, and, together with the 
advocates of infidelity, assisted in making the people still more immoral. 
Under these circumstances, our ministers and societies had a difficult task 
to solve, and this the more so as they were the only Germans there in those 
days, who fought the battles of the Lord. 

The increase of members 1n this conference year was 883, and at the 
close of the year the whole number of members amounted to 13,908. 


§ 242. Rey. Charles Hesser. 


Bro. Charles Hesser was the only minister of the Association, who 
died during this year. His unexpected death, in consequence of an acci- 
dent he met with on his way to General Conference, caused, as before 
stated, great grief and many tears among the delegates of the conference, 
and was deeply lamented by all who had known him. His death was caused 
in the following manner: On the 6th of October, he and the Brethren 
Henry Fisher, Joseph M. Saylor, and Michael F. Maize, started in a two- 
horse carriage, in order to attend General Conference, to be held in the 
State of Ohio. The following day they dined with Bro. Daniel Zartman in 
Jackson Township, Northumberland County, Pa.; and thence starting, 


374 HISTORY OF THE [1843. 


they drove down hill, when the tongue of the carriage came loose, and, 
touching the horses, caused one of them to kick so furiously as to hit and 
break Bro. Hesser’s leg, who was holding the reins. A fever ensued in con- 
sequence of this wound, and in five days he died, October 12th. His re- 
mains were taken to Orwigsburg, his native place, and buried there the 
following Sunday, October 15th, in the burying-ground of the Associ- 
ation; Bro. John Sensel preached his funeral sermon to a very large and 
deeply affected concourse of people, from Luke 2, 29-30: ‘Lord, now 
lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word; for mine 
eyes have seen thy salvation.” He left a widow and four children. 

Bro. Hesser was converted about 1824, during the great revival at 
Orwigsburg and vicinity. A few years afterward he was licensed to preach, 
entered the itinerancy in 1831, and was stationed with Bro. Philip Wagner . 
on Center circuit, where he preached with much applause and with marked 
success. The following year he traveled with Solomon G, Miller on Union 
circuit, and was universally beloved. In 1833 he was stationed for the 
second time on Center circuit, as the superintending preacher, with John 
Young for his colleague. In 1834 he traveled Cumberland, and in 1835 
Lebanon circuit, and labored successfully and with acceptance on these 
two circuits, although no special awakenings took place during that time. 
In 1836 he traveled again on Cumberland circuit, and in 1837 he was sent, 
for the first time, to Philadelphia, where he labored for two successive 
years with glorious results, and rendered general satisfaction. In 1839 
and part of 1840, he traveled on Schuylkill circuit; he was then stationed 
again at Philadelphia, and in 1842 and 1843, to the end of his earthly 
career, he traveled on Lehigh circuit. Thus he served the Church as an 
itinerant a little over 12 years, and died at the age of 35 years, 11 months, 
and 7 days. 

Bro. Hesser was universally beloved ; he was well built, about 5 feet 
and 8 inches high, rather slender, with regular features, sharp clear eyes, 
of rather dark complexion, cheerful disposition, and nearly always of 
pleasant mien. His manners in the pulpit were very pleasing, his voice 
was penetrating and resonant, and his discourses were always touching. 
In almost every sermon, part of his audience wept, and the impressions 
they received were often lasting. Although he often attacked sin in detail 
and without fear or favor, his hearers took no offence because of his 
influence over them. He was a talented orator, but not deep in his scrip- 
tural expositions or explanations of texts. His strength did not lie in this 
direction, but rather in his touching appeals, his expressions of sympathy, 
and in his pleasant conduct toward everybody. His biographer says of him 
among other things :— 

“He was one of those few who have almost no enemies, and everybody 
for their friend. As a private citizen, he was strictly moral and without 
blemish in his conduct ; as a Christian, he was courageous and resolute, to 


1844.| EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 375 


suffer for Christ and the truth; as a minister of the Gospel, he was 
well qualified and full of unction. He filled his office with credit and dig- 
nity, and blew the trumpet of the good news of the great salvation in Christ 
Jesus with clearness and indefatigableness. His discourses were strictly 
evangelical, animated, instructive, and greatly calculated to engage the 
attention of the audience; and there is no doubt, that a vast amount 
of good has been accomplished by his labors in the vineyard of the 
Lord.” 

Cheerful and courageous, as he had been in life, so he was also in 
death ; and thus he fell in the triumphs of faith as a conqueror on the field 
of the Gospel. His dying words were: “Glory be to the Lamb forever and 
ever!” and thus he died happy in the Lord. 


§ 243. Another Prosperous Conference Year, 


The annual conferences in 1844 were held as follows: The Hast Pa., 
at Orwigsburg, Pa., on the 28th of February ; the West Pa., at Millheim, 
Center Co., Pa., on the 13th of March, and the Ohio at Lafayette, Wayne 
Co., Ohio, on the 8th of May. Hight preachers located and nineteen were 
received into the itinerancy. 

The East Pennsylvania Conference formed two new circuits, viz.: 
Northampton, consisting of parts of Lehigh and Milford circuits, and 
Dauphin, consisting of parts of Lebanon and Lancaster circuits. This 
Conference also established new missions at Reading, Pa., and Syracuse, 
N. Y. In the West Pa., no preacher left the itinerancy this year, a rare 
occurrence. This Conference also formed two new circuits, viz.: West 
Moreland and Loyalsack, and a new district called Potomac district, con- 
sisting of parts of Baltimore and Allegheny districts. Ohio Conference 
changed some of its missions into circuits and established new missions at 
Chillicothe, O., Peoria, Ill, and Galena, Il. 

The newly formed Illinois Conference, being still embodied in the Ohio 
Conference, held no session as yet. It consisted of two districts, viz.: 
Indiana and Illinois districts upon which presiding elders and preachers 
were stationed separately by the Ohio Conference. The former district was 
served by Absalom B, Schaefer and the latter by Samuel Baumgartner, 
both sturdy pioneers in the western wilds, who were not easily dis- 
couraged by difficulties and inconveniences nor frightened away from 
their posts. 

The Conference extended over large portions of the States of Indiana 
and [llinois, as far as Wisconsin and Iowa, and was about 500 miles long 
and nearly 400 wide, numbering 14 preachers, 763 members, 3 circuits, 6 
missions, 5 churches, 5 Sunday-schools and about 50 preaching places, some 
of which were from 60 to 80 miles apart, and almost inaccessible on account 
of the unbeaten, trackless prairies, swamps and unbridged rivers. The 
preachers frequently missed the right direction on the pathless prairies, 


376 HISTORY OF THE [1844. 


lost their way, and wandered about till late at night, yea sometimes had to 
spend even the night there. The sainted Bro. Lintner related a few months 
before his death, that once he wandered about on such a prairie for a whole 
day and a night, and part of the following day, during a severe and very 
cold snow-storm, without meeting with a house or human being, in the 
certain apprehension of death. Fortunately his hfe was saved. At another 
time, he and his horse almost froze to death. Many of the earliest preach- 
ers in the far West, suffered similarly. These were trials, such as those 
ministers had often to pass through. But their labors in the Lord were 
not in vain; hundreds and thousands of precious souls were converted to 
the Lord by their instrumentality, who now praise him for the salvation 
brought to them by these faithful messengers of God. 

Bro. Schaefer and the preachers under his care on Jndiana district, | 
labored with glorious success. Hearts and doors were opened before them, 
and their fields of labor extended more and more. 

On Illinois district, presided over by Bro. Baumgartner, the work made 
upon the whole, glorious progress ; the circuits and missions were consid- 
erably extended and the membership increased, partly by conversions, 
partly by members coming from the Hast. At Chicago an awakening took 
place, and the society was considerably increased. Milwaukee mission, 
too, grew stronger, both from without and within ; from without by taking 
up a number of new preaching placcs, and within by the conversion of a 
goodly number of precious souls. 

During this year the brethren commenced to preach at Racine, Wis., and 
formed a small class. This year Bro. John Niebergall moved with his family, 
all of whom belonged to the Society, from Lyons, N. Y., to that place, and 
opened his house to the preachers. He held the first German service in 
that city—a prayer-meeting—with his wife and a brother, named H. Young, 
who had, meanwhile, come thither. During this prayer-meeting a soul was 
awakened and became penitent. Bro. Hauert preached the first German 
sermon there in September of the same year. This was the beginning of 
the labors of the Evangelical Association at Racine. 

The Galena mission was very large from the beginning, extending over 
about 300 miles, and increased still more from time to time. The mission- 
ary, John G. Miller, labored amid many difficulties and discourage- 
ments with indefatigable zeal, and was permitted to see the fruit of his 
‘labors. 

Bro. Baumgartner and Bishop Seybert also bore their share of the burden 
of the work in the new country, and set their younger brethren an example 
of application and perseverance, that could not fail to make very salutary 
impressions upon them. The Bishop took so deep an interest in the pros- 
perity of the West, both in a temporal and moral point of view, that he 
traveled, preached, visited and underwent the greatest hardships, in order 
to promote its best interests. 


1844. | EVANGELICAL ASSOCIA TION. 377 


But all the efforts of the Bishop, the presiding elders and preachers 
generally, were not sufficient to meet the spiritual wants of the West. The 
harvest was too plenteous—much too plenteous for the small number of 
laborers. 

This was on the whole a successful conference year, and the increase 
was more than twice as large as in the previous year. Great awakenings 
took place in different places. On Leikens circuit in the East Pa. Confer- 
ence, glorious revivals took place, especially at Berrysburg, beginning at 
the dedication of a church, and on Lehigh, Northampton and Lebanon cir- 
cuit, etc. The mission at Syracuse also prospered greatly, and a church 
was built there during the year. 

The new mission in Reading, Pa., did well from its start, although the 
missionary, Joseph M. Saylor, encountered some difficulties. A more 
detailed statement of them will show how our missionaries in those 
times labored, and what courage was often required to overcome the hind- 
rances. 

Bro. Saylor had advocated the establishing of a mission in Reading 
very earnestly at Conference, but to his dismay he was then appointed 
there himself. When he came there with his family—a number of small 
children—he knew not where to find lodging, for there were as yet no 
members there. A family, who had on a previous visit manifested 
friendliness appeared disinclined now, and closed their door. There the 
Saylor family stood on the street and knew not where to go; finally they 
found a place to stay for the night. Next day Bro. Saylor rented a house 
from a friendly Methodist brother, named Rein, who was well acquainted 
with Bishop Seybert. On the following day he rented a room above a 
tannery for preaching, but the people would not go there, then he resolved 
to transfer the meeting to his house. He procured benches, and Sister 
Saylor would take up the carpet on Saturdays and then they held meeting 
on Sundays. 

At that time there were no sidewalks in that part of the city, and in 
wet weather the condition of the room after a meeting can be imagined, 
better than told, but the tradition is well founded, that the mud could be 
shoveled out of the room! But some persons were converted. Soon Bro. 
Saylor perceived the necessity of building a house of worship and bought 
a lot from Dr. Nagel, and commenced collecting funds for the erection of a 
church, but at the beginning he received only small sums—nothing higher 
than $5.00; then he hired a conveyance, and went into the country on a 
collecting tour. The edifice was begun and carried forward as circumstances 
permitted. The contract among other things, stipulated the payment of 
$200 as soon as the roof was completed; the time soon arrived and the 
missionary had not so much as two hundred cents toward it, and scarcely 
any bread in the house. Then to cap the climax, the presiding elder cen- 
. sured the missionary for having begun this building, and told him that he 


UJ 


378 HISTORY OF THE [1844, 


must now look out himself how to get through with it. Good counsel was 
rare. Bro. Saylor took his staff in hand, walked ten miles into the coun- 
try and called upon a wealthy man by the name of Daniel Bertolet who had 
been a member of the Church but was now dissatisfied with 1t. This man 
had encouraged Saylor to begin the work, and now the missionary asked 
him to advance the $200 until the session of the annual Conference, but 
Bertolet answered that he would henceforth have nothing to do with the 
Evangelical Association. 

Upon this Saylor said: “ You helped to lead me into this thing, and 
now you dare not forsake me.’’ Then he loaned Saylor the $200 upon his 
note, and thus there came help for the present. The first story of the 
Church was then completed ; during the first protracted meeting a number 
of persons were converted and the mission became established. When Bro. — 
Saylor commenced the meeting in the church the “ ungodly” broke into it 
and drove the worshipers out, whereupon Dr. Nagel prosecuted these ruf- 
fians, and the court duly punished them. Upon this the papers of the town 
came out in defense of the mission and the tables were turned. From this 
mission grew several strong congregations, and Reading has become one of 
the strong-holds of the Evangelical Association. 

In the latter part of the Summer of this year (1844) a remarkable oc- 
currence took place at a camp-meeting which a reliable eye-witness relates, 
as follows : 

‘A camp-meeting was held on the land of Martin Rosenberger, in Hat- 
field, Montgomery County, Pa. Bro. Henry Fischer was the presiding elder, 
and hence the superintendent of the meeting. At that time the work of con- 
version was yet something new in that section of country, the opposition 
was strong and there were many rude people of whom a number came to the 
meeting to make disturbance. On the last day (Friday) the report was 
received that the meeting would be broken up by those ruffians, Bro. 
Fischer called the meeting together at the usual time, and read some of 
the ‘rules’ to be observed, and then exhorted the people to earnest prayer 
and confidence in God for His assistance, becavse the meeting was severely 
threatened by the powers of darkness. This was followed by singing and 
prayer and a short, pointed sermon after which an invitation was given to 
seekers of salvation, when several of them came forward to the altar of 
prayer. But lo !—there came also the wicked crowd from the upper end of 
the camp-ground with their gigantic leader at the front, pushing themselves 
through the congregation coming like an avalanche upon the praying peo- 
ple. Bro. Fischer saw them approach and quickly coming down from the 
preacher’s stand, called upon the friends to pray. Some fied, others fell 
upon their knees and cried to God, while some others began to praise God 
aloud. Meanwhile Bro. Fischer had met the Goliath-like leader in the 
midst of the people and commanded him in the name of the Lord Jehovah 
to withdraw with his mob, The big fellow declared that his sister was at 


1844. | EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION, 379 


the altar of prayer, and he would not leave without taking her along. The 
excitement became more intense at every moment. The members con- 
tinued calling upon God and Fischer continued to threaten the leader in 
the name of the Lord; but see! the ruffian clenches his fists and begins to 
strike, aiming at Fischer's face, but, strange to tell, could not hit him; 
every stroke goes amiss and he simply beats the air. Others upon seeing 
this become astonished, Bro. Fischer being filled with victorious assur- 
ance, suddenly took a high leap immediately in front of his opponent and 
shouted with a thrilling voice: “ Hallelujah !—Glory to God!” Upon 
this there arose a glorious shout of victory in thecamp. The wicked mob- 
leader took flight, scrambled over the fence that surrounded the altar, and, 
as if blinded, ran up against a tent. At last he and his followers found 
the place of exit, and, taking the shortest route, ran into the darkness of 
the woods. There they halted, and when one of them asked him: “Why 
did you run away?” he gasped: “ Yes—among these people—the devil can- 
not stand it!” Several brethren who had followed them into the darkness 
heard this interesting dialogue. This wicked man had told the truth. He 
himself had realized what he said; and, moreover, meanwhile one penitent 
after the other who had continued in prayer during the tumult, pressed 
through from death into divine life. The meeting was continued till late 
into the night amidst a general shouting of the praises of God. On the 
following day Bro. Fischer journeyed away in company with some others, 
who noticed that he was intensely engaged and moved inwardly, and that 
at times a supernatural smile lit up his countenance.” * 


In the West Pa. Conference the work prospered most on Union, Perry, 
Cumberland, and Warren circuits, where considerable awakenings took 
place in various parts, especially one near Selinsgrove, on Union circuit. 


From the Ohio Conference the reports were meager. Some camp and 
protracted meetings, however, were greatly blessed. In a report of a 
camp-meeting held on Columbiana district Bro, Elias Stoever speaks as 
follows : 


“The third camp-meeting we held on Canton circuit in the month of 
August. consisting of 60 tents, most of which were occupied together by 
two families. About 400 friends were present, and the audiences were 
large and attentive. On Sunday thousands of people met who behaved 
quite well. This meeting was greatly blessed from beginning to end, and 
many will long cherish its memory. The preaching of the Gospel was 
well-received, and at every invitation penitents came to the altar. Between 
40 and 50 persons were converted of whom 34 joined the Church. Among 
the children of God great joy prevailed and their shouts of praise were 
heard at a distance.” 





*) Reported by Rev. Jesse Yeakel, who attended the meeting and was a close obser- 
ver of the occurrences. 


25 


380 HISLORY OF Dak [1845. 


The increase of members during this Conference year amounted to 
1,010 and the whole membership was 14,918. 


§ 244. Bro. Daniel Focht. 


This year the Association lost but one of its preachers by death, viz.: 
Bro. Daniel Focht, of Schuylkill County, in the East Pa. Conference. In 
connection with the great revival at Orwigsburg, mention has already been 
made of Bro. Focht, and his character and usefulness have been described 
to some extent. We therefore insert here but an extract from his biography, 
which appeared in the Botschafter, as follows :— 

“ Bro, Daniel Focht died happy in the Lord, March 16, 1844, at his 
old residence in Brunswick township, Schuylkill County, Pa., in his 61st 
year. His disease was a nervous complaint, which caused him for about 
four years almost unendurable sufferings. Yet great as his sufferings were, 
God strengthened him and granted him a victorious faith, in which he died 
calmly. 

“Shortly before his final departure, he said: ‘I have examined myself, 
and through the blood of Christ I see my way open to heaven.’ Subse- 
quently he was so abundantly blessed and strengthened, that he said to his 
family, he could scarce wait for the time of his dissolution, but would soon 
go to heaven, requesting them to tell this to his brethren and sisters, and 
to all men. Thus departed this just and pious man in the faith and firm 
hope of a blessed immortality. 

“ Bro. Focht was converted about 25 years ago, through the instru- 
mentality of our preachers, joined the Church, and was for the greater part 
of his subsequent life a local preacher, which office he filled with great 
zeal and faithfulness, to the conversion of many souls and the edification 
of the children of God.” 


§ 245. A Quiet Conference Year. 


The Annual Conferences of this year took place as follows: Hast Pa. 
Conference convened at Philadelphia, Feb. 26: West Pa. at York, March 
12; that of Ohio in Emanuel’s Church, Greenfield township, Fairfield Co., 
O., May 14th ; and that of Illinois at Des Plaines, Cook Co., Illinois, June 
11th, which was its first session. Nine itinerants located, and thirteen were 
received on trial. Several of the circuits were divided, and others changed ; 
but only one new mission was started, viz.: at Albany, N. Y., excepting a 
few more by Illinois Conference. 

Although the boundaries of the Association extended considerably 
during the year, and nearly 2300 new members were received, yet the net 
increase did not even amount to one hundred! The loss of membership 
was greater than in any former year. 

The East Pennsylvania Conference received 736 new members, and yet 
its increase only amounted to 43; the West Pennsylvania Conference 


1845.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIA TION. 381 


received 812 new members, and yet sustained a decrease of 91 members ; 
that of Ohio had 486 new converts, and yet had a decrease of 15; while 
that of Illinois received but 224 new members, and had an increase of 160. 
However incredible this report may appear to some of our readers, it is 
nevertheless true, according to the protocols of the several conferences. It 
is, therefore, no wonder that the increase of the membership of the Associ- 
ation was so very slow.* 

Our views of the causes of these heavy annual losses we have already 
given; and as the evil still exists to some extent, the Annual Conferences 
ought to take it into consideration, in order to remedy it as far as possible. 
It can, indeed, not be expected that in a denomination enforcing Discipline 
and excluding the transgressors, the increase of membership should be as 
rapid as in those where this is done but to a limited extent or not at all; 
but notwithstanding this, the annual losses of the Evangelical Association 
are proportionately far too great. 

Of extraordinary awakenings this year we have no information although 
nearly the usual number of new members was received. In the Hast Pa. 
Conference the circuits Northampton, Monroe and Leikens and the Albany 
mission had the best success. Awakenings also occurred in Weissport, 
Beachwood, Williams township and Springtown, and a considerable number 
of persons were saved. 

In the West Pa. Conference, Columbia, Cumberland, York, Lycoming, 
Perry and Clarion circuits ; and in the Ohio Conference, Wayne, Sandusky 
and Marion circuits, and Ann Arbor mission made the best progress so far 
as accessions were concerned. 

Illinois Conference was in great want of ministers, and its extensive 
fields of labor could therefore be but sparingly supplied. Besides, it should 
be remembered that nearly all the ministers were inexperienced young men. 
This proved a serious impediment to the rapid extension of the work. Not- 
withstanding all this, new preaching places were established in new parts 
of the country and the boundaries considerably enlarged. 


§ 246. Renewed Dissussions of Higher Education. 


About this time a discussion arose in the Christliche Botschafter con- 
cerning the views of the Ev. Association with reference to an educated 
ministry caused by a communication from John Dreisbach under the head- 
ing: “Teachers and Preachers Must Not Be Ignorant,” in which he favored 
a learned ministry, and encouraged such preachers and candidates for the 
ministry as received no proper school education, to be industrious in using 
the means for self-education. He did not hold that learning in the higher 
sense of the word was indispensable to the office of the ministry, but he 

*) It must, however, be said that the statistics were at this time kept very imper- 


fectly; and the emigration of many members from the East to the West caused confusion 
and losses. 


382 HISTORY OF THE 11846. 


admitted that it would not be detrimental, and that in connection with the 
divine call and unction it would be a great advantage and very much en- 
hance the preacher’s usefulness. He insisted particularly that the minister 
should fully master the languages he uses in preaching, etc. 

Later this subject was again discussed in the paper, but not with the 
desired result, because the differences of opinion were yet too great, causing 
considerable friction. 

Nevertheless the subject in question was thereby brought into public 
and private discussion, and some advance gained in the mind of the Church. 
One year afterward the West Pa. Conference formed itself into an Hduca- 
tional Society, for the purpose of procuring a library for the use of the 
Conference, and supporting pious, poor young men in their studies. Two 
years afterward the subject came up before General Conference which body 
took measures to establish a higher school of learning (“ Pflanzschule ”), 
which, however, was not carried out, yet it was a progressive movement. 
The prejudices and opposition to high schools in the Association gradually 
gave way, and many who had formerly been opposed now favored them. 

The number of newly received members during this conference year 
was 2,258, but the increase only ninety-seven, and at the close of the year 
the whole number was 15,015. 


§ 247. A Year of Progress. 


In 1846 the Hast Pa. Conference held its session in Schuylkill Haven, 
Pa., beginning on the 25th of February. Statistics were reported as fol- 
fows: Newly converted 557, newly received 736, whole number 4790, The 
salary of a single preacher was $56.16. One preacher located, and four 
were received into the itinerancy. Whit-Monday was appointed as a 
day of fasting and prayer for the preachers and members of this Con- 
ference. 

The West Pa. Conference began its session on the 18th of March in 
New Berlin, Pa. Seven preachers located and nine were received into the — 
itinerancy. The salary of a single preacher was $48.84—certainly small 
enough. The Conference resolved “that it is inexpedient for our young 
preachers to marry or enter into a betrothal during the time of their pro- 
bation,’’—a good resolution. 

The Conference also resolved that in their estimation it was “not 
advisable for our preachers and members to join any secret society or have 
fellowship with them.” This resolution is well worthy of being renewed 
and complied with. 

The Conference also formed itself into an “ Educational Society” for 
the purpose of assisting each other in literary advancement. Further it 
was resolved that the 27th day of November be observed as a day of fast- 
ing and prayer during which there should be preaching in the morning and 
evening. This also might be frequently repeated with great spiritual 


1846. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 383 


benefit. A committee was appointed to devise a plan for raising the sum 
of $2000 for the mission church in Pittsburg. 

Statistics: Newly converted 578, newly received 718, whole member- 
ship 5,109. 

The Ohio Conference held its session in Thompson township, Seneca 
Co., Ohio, on the 13th of May. Four preachers located. The single preacher, 
received $50.52. No statistics reported. 


The Illinois Conference held its session in Germantown, Indiana, be- 
ginning June 10th. Statistics: Newly received 224, whole number of 
members 1208, salary of single preacher $51.84. The Illinois Conference 
had an immense field of labor which extended over Indiana, Illinois and 
Wisconsin, and as there were no railroads in this territory at that time, and 
the country roads were new and often impassable, the preachers traveled 
mostly on horseback. In those far famed “backwoods” and on those 
immense prairies they were subjected to many privations, difficulties, and 
hardships. But they pressed forward courageously and celebrated many 
victories in the log-cabins and sod-houses of the righteous. 


The various reports show that the work in general made considerable 
progress in 1846. The Conferences were well disposed toward each other 
and would in cases of necessity lend a helping hand. When, for instance, 
the West Pa, Conference appointed a committee to devise a plan for raising 
$2000 for the distressed Church in Pittsburg, the Ohio Conference took 
hold of this matter, and even the distant and yet young Illinois Conference 
resolved that each presiding elder should collect $20 on his district for said 
church. 


Considerable interest was manifested in the proposed meeting of the 
“ Evangelical Alliance” in London, England, to be held on the 19th of 
August, 1846. Father John Dreisbach was appointed delegate to represent 
the Association, but he was not able to undertake the journey on account 
of bodily infirmities. 


The “camp-meeting spirit” was at this time very active in the Church. 
In a few issues of the Botschafter, thirty-five announcements of proposed 
camp-meetings appeared, In several communications it was urged upon 
preachers and members to prepare themselves for these meetings by fast- 
ing and prayer. There was a holy earnestness in this matter. According 
to reports a great number of “ fishes” were caught with the net of the Gos- 
pel at these meetings, At several meetings as many as 50 persons professed 
conversion. 

The cause of missions made somewhat slow but sure progress. The 
annual report of the society enumerates 16 missions, as follows : New York, 
Syracuse, Albany, Lancaster, Reading, Pittsburg, Cleveland, Sandusky, 
Ann Arbor, Dayton, Chicago, St. Mary’s, Iowa, Madison, Racine, Milwau- 
kee. The motto of the Evangelical Association was: Forward! 


384 HISTORY OF THE [1847. 


§ 248. Conference Sessions.—Resolutions Against Secret Societies. 


In 1847 the East Pa. Conference held its session in Fayette, Seneca 
County, New York, beginning February. The statistical report exhibited 
the following items : newly-converted 519, newly-received 636, whole num- 
ber of members 4,900. The salary of a single minister was $56.76. 

Bishop Joseph Long, Henry Fischer, and Francis Hoffman were ap- 
pointed a committee to formulate and report a resolution concerning secret 
societies, and they reported that the General Conference be requested to in- 
troduce a law into the discipline prohibiting our preachers and members 
from joining secret societies ; also “‘ that this Conference advises the preach- 
ers and members to join no society whose organization makes it necessary 
to fellowship with worldly men and participate in their foolish perform- — 
ances, because this is in conflict with the word of God, causes much offence, 
and is unseemly and dangerous for Christians.” In this matter the trum- 
pet gave no uncertain sound. 


The West Pa. Conference convened March 17th, in North Middleton, 
Cumberland County, Pa. The statistical report gives newly-converted 722, 
newly-received 812, whole membership 5,152. The single preacher received 
$02.56; still sufficient to keep him at least outwardly humble !—The Confer- 
ence again adopted a resolution concerning secret societies, this time defin- 
ing what they understood by this designation, viz.: “ All societies which 
transact their private business behind locked doors and guards, keep them 
secret under solemn oaths, and use secret signs by which they recognize 
each other.” 


The resolutions of the two eastern conferences regarding secret socie- 
ties certainly were a sign of the times in that part of the Church which 
indicated much more than was expressed directly! But we can only ap- 
prove of the solicitude and vigilance of these watchmen on the walls of 
Zion.—During this session the previously-formed Educational Society com- 
pleted its organization by the adoption of a constitution and the election 
of officers. 


The Ohio Conference met May 12, at Manchester, Summit County, 
Ohio. The statistical report shows, newly-received 403, whole membership 
3,257. Salary of a single preacher $56.52. Eleven brethren were received 
into the itinerancy and two located.—The mind of the Church concerning 
oath-bound secret societies, as for instance Free-masons, about this time 
found its strongest expression in an out-spoken resolution of this Confer- 
ence with reference to one of their members, as follows: ‘“ Resolved, That 
(N. N.) shall withdraw from the order of Free-masons and procure a certi- 
ficate of dismissal from them, which shall then be published; in case this 
is not accomplished, he can no longer serve as preacher among us. But 
should he not be able to obtain said certificate, the Conference requires the 
testimony of two men appointed for this purpose that he has withdrawn, 


1847.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIA TION. 385 


for the purpose of publication.” This was rigorously carried out by the 
two appointees upon which (N. N.) remained in the ministry. Whether 
this transaction was legal may be a question, but it was certainly not want- 
ing in definiteness as to the sentiment and practice of this Conference. 

The session of the Illinois Conference took place in Naperville, Illinois, 
on the 9th of June. 359 newly-received members were reported ; the sin- 
gle preacher received $77.16. This was regarded as a considerable advance 
in salary, especially commendable in view of the fact that this was the 
pioneer and frontier Conference, It extended its operations rapidly into 
Iowa and still further into Wisconsin, and thus spread itself over four 
States, viz.: Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Iowa. But “there was still 
much more land to be occupied.” 

Thirty-six camp-meetings were announced this year and more than 
this number were held. At that time the preaching at such meetings was 
concentrated upon repentance, conversion, and sanctification. The purpose 
was to get into the hearts of men with the word of God, to which the divine 
blessing was added and the word did not return void, but accomplished 
that unto which it was sent. Hence there followed many awakenings and 
conversions, and the reports of them were very cheering. This stirred up 
considerable jealousy and opposition, which was specially manifested by 
several religious (?) papers who denounced and glaringly misrepresented 
these meetings ; but the then editor of the Botschafter (Adam Ettinger) 
defended them vigorously and skillfully. 


§ 249. Another Controversy on Classical Education. 


A controversy arose during this Conference year concerning classical 
education, higher institutions of learning, etc., in the Botschafter, in which, 
however, all the participants agreed that such an education was good and 
desirable for a minister, but the views differed with reference to the means 
and manner by which to secure it. It was feared chiefly that the advocates 
of such education intended to introduce theological schools—so-called 
“ preacher-factories ’—which were vehemently denounced, but no one had 
such an object in view at that time. By this controversy, however, the 
subject was brought more fully before the Church and into the light. A 
very decided intention was expressed that the Church would cling to the 
old evangelical Jand-mark: that the call and fitness for the ministerial 
office must come from God, but that the preacher must also use all diligence 
and appropriate means in his power to become well-informed in scientific 
and literary respects, for the better administration of his office, in accord- 
ance with the expression of the previous General Conference. 


§ 250. A Very Business-like General Conference, 


The ninth session of General Conference commenced on the 29th day 
of September, 1847, in New Berlin, Pa. There were 41 delegates present. 


386 HISTORY OF THE [1847. 


The general statistics yielded the following results: Preachers 319, mem- 
bers 14,871, a gain during four years of 1801 members. The loss of mem- 
bers was much larger than the latter number which may have been caused 
chiefly by emigration from the East to the West, where they were very 
often not reached by our preachers, besides the statistical reports were 
often very defective. 

This Conference adopted the recommendation by the annual confer- 
ences that a preacher on probation in the itinerancy be not allowed to 
marry during his probation. This is a wiselaw. A probationary preacher 
needs all his time and the use of his powers in study and general prepara- 
tion for the high office of the ministry, in order to a thorough test of his 
ability and call before he can be advanced to holy orders. 

It was also ordered that every preacher be diligent in establishing 
Sunday-schools (especially German) wherever practicable. The paranthe- — 
tical restriction was, however, expunged in later years, because it led to 
great difficulties and embarrassments. 

The Conference adopted a rule that the vote be taken vive voce instead 
of by rising as was done previously. 

The editor of the Botschafter and the agent of the Publishing House 
(Ettinger and Reisner) were placed under charges for having lived in dis- 
cord during their official term, and after an investigation, which lasted dur- 
ing several days, it was resolved that they be deprived of membership in 
this Conference, that they be required to settle their difficulties peaceably, 
and shall not be eligible for re-election to their respective offices at this 
session. 


§ 251. Resolutions Concerning High Schools. 


A resolution was adopted that this Conference does not favor theologi- 
cal schools—called “ preachers-factories,” in common parlance. The some- 
what vehement discussion on classical education which had taken place 
shortly before the session of this Conference, and in which several writers 
took positions too far in advance of the sentiment of the Church, was 
followed by a re-action; this was very likely the reason for this somewhat 
remarkable resolution.* 

Now Father John Dreisbach surprised the Conference by offering the 
following resolution :— 

“ Resolved, That a seminary for general sciences be established in the 
Evangelical Association with the consent of the majority of the members, 
connected with manual labor by the pupils, in order thereby to defray the 
expenses of tuition, board, etc., with the understanding that thereby no 

*) Rev. William W. Orwig, who had been for several years the pioneer leader in 
the cause of higher education, and had used some strong expressions during the said 


discussion, was the mover of the above resolution, thereby indicating that he was not 
in favor of the dreaded “ preachers-factories.” 


1847. | EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. | 387 


so-called ‘preachers-factory’ (theological school) is intended, and it is 
expressly stipulated that it shall never be used for such a purpose, because 
according to our view, the preparation and sending out of evangelical 
preachers is the work of God. Nevertheless we believe that it is our duty 
to put forth our efforts that the Evangelical Association may become en- 
riched in the manifold branches of knowledge, which is without question 
very beneficial to every Christian and preacher and will be helpful to us in 
obtaining a correct knowledge of God and ourselves, and will render the 
Holy Scriptures more edifying to us.”— 

This motion was adopted and a vote of the entire Church-membership 
on this subject was ordered. Then it was further 

“ Resolved, That our Bishops and John Dreisbach be a standing com- 
mittee—in case the Evangelical Association gives a favorable expression 
and the erection of the proposed seminary appears practicable—to report 
these facts to the annual conferences, whereupon each Conference shall 
elect a director for the accomplishment of this object.” And further it 
was 

“ Resolved, That every preacher in charge shall in each class of his 
charge hold an election during the Conference year at which our friends 
shall declare whether they be in favor of such a school or not; this elec- 
tion shall be duly announced, and every member shall have the privilege of 
voting.” 

The work in the State of New York and Canada—excepting the city 
of New York—was formed into a new Conference and called “ New York 
Conference.” 

It was also resolved that the annual salary of the editors and the 
managing agent be $225, and that each child under 14 years shall receive 
$15! In view of the fact that these officers had to work almost day and 
night, thereby impairing their health, this was indeed a pitiable salary, but 
the idea then prevailed that the preachers laboring in the Publishing House 
should be as nearly as possible on an equality with those on circuits, in the 
matter of salary. 


§ 252. The Publication of the Evangelical Messenger Ordered. 


As many of the younger members of the Church could not read Ger- 
man, and several fields of labor consisted almost entirely of English speak- 
ing members the want of an English Church paper was felt very keenly, 
hence it was resolved by this Conference: that such a paper be published 
and be named, “ The KHvangelical Messenger.” It was to appear semi- 
monthly and be issued as soon as 800 subscribers should be secured—if 
possible to commence with the 8th of January, 1848. Since the Church 
had such splendid success with the Christliche Botschafter, and as the Pub- 
lishing House was free of debt, there was no hesitation in undertaking this 
additional enterprise. 


388 HISTORY OF THE [1847. 


A resolution was adopted that a Conference having 20 English preach- 
ers should be permitted to organize an English Conference, which was 
to have equal rights with the other Conferences. From these transactions 
all see clearly that the English work was not to be treated as a “step- 
child,’ but enjoy equal rights with the German. The English portion of 
the Church already had the Discipline, a hymn-book, and now also a pro- 
spective Church paper, and permission to organize English Conferences en- 
joying in all respects equal privileges, although the Germans were largely 
in the majority, and had in some respects to assist the English brethren. 
These facts are highly significant. 


§ 253. Election of Bishops and Editors. 


John Seybert and Joseph Long were again elected Bishops. Con- 
cerning this election Bishop Seybert wrote the following notice into his 
diary :— 

“Today, October 22, 1847, Conference attended to the election of 
General Superintendents, and again two Bishops were elected for the four 
ensuing years, namely Joseph Long and John Seybert ; thus this, to me, 
unspeakably important office has been imposed upon me again—and this 
was done in the afternoon at about four o'clock. O Lord, help! O 
Lord, send prosperity ! Amen.” 

Nicholas Gehr of the Ohio Conference was elected eaitoe of both 
Botschafter and Messenger, and Henry Fischer of the East Pa. Conference, 
managing agent of the Publishing House. Adam Ettinger was commis- 
sioned to continue and complete the compilation of the History of the 
Evangelical Association commenced by John Dreisbach. 


§ 254. Class-meetings. 


This Conference also adopted the rule which makes it the duty of the 
classleader to “ hold class-meeting at least once every four weeks.” But 
this class-meeting as the fathers and law-makers understood it, does not 
mean to hold a prayer-meeting, it means an examination of the class, as 
the Discipline clearly teaches, at which the leader calls upon each member 
by name to tell to the class what his spiritual condition is, whether pro- 
cress is being made in grace, upon which the leader imparts such admoni- 
tions as seem necessary and suitable to him for the promotion of spiritual 
life. These evangelical class-meetings, in the primitive time of the 
Church, were held much oftener than once in four weeks, and were always 
very edifying and inciting. 

The itinerant preachers also, especially those in charge, held such 
class-meetings. This was often done without previous notice at the close 
of a brief sermon, in accordance with a direction in the Discipline, that he 
also hold class-examinations four times a year in each class. Lukewarm 
and indifferent members, however, did not relish this ; they were almost 


4847.) EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 389 


frightened, for in those earlier times of the Church it was impossible to 
escape a closer examination by a few general phrases; the preacher endeav- 
ored to get to the bottom of the spiritual status of the members, and his 
questions were frequently similar to a cross-examination in a civil court. 
Many persons who had relapsed into spiritual drowsiness would thereby 
be aroused and were “ fired up” again, as the saying then was current. 
Zealous Christians greatly appreciated these meetings, they served gener- 
ally as a blessed means of grace. No class-meeting passed without tears 
of penitence and also of joy, and not infrequently the praises of God arose 
from heart and tongue for the great things God was doing among his people. 
The preachers themselves realized great benefit, they would thereby become 
better acquainted with the spiritual condition of their members, and were 
thus enabled to prepare their sermons and direct their pastoral labors 
accordingly. These rules are still in the Discipline—but how is it with 
regard to their observance by class-leaders and preachers ?* 


§ 255. Against Secret Societies. 


Several motions concerning secret societies were discussed by this 
General Conference, which, however, were finally all laid upon the table. 
The request made by the East Pa, Conference that a law be passed prohib- 
iting our preachers and members from joining such societies had not come 
before this Conference in the order prescribed in the Discipline, and hence 
could not be acted upon. However, the general and prevailing sentiment 
in this Conference and throughout the Church was against such societies. 
Most of the preachers and members who belonged to such organizations 
before their conversion, withdrew from them and warned others against 
joining them. The same sentiment has been observed to be predominant 
in our and other Churches when and where spirituality prevails. 


This session was closed according to the record as follows: The 
members of Conference signed their names, thereby signifying their approval 
of the transactions of this session : 


Joseph Long, John Seybert, William W. Orwig, Francis Hoffmann, 
John G. Zinser, Absalom B. Schaefer, Philip Wagner, John P. Leib, Joseph 
M. Saylor, Henry Fischer, Michael Eis, David Fischer, Jacob Kehr, Fred- 
erick Danner, Christian Hummel, Michael Lehn, William Miinz, Jacob 
Boas, Charles Hammer, Henry Rohland, James Dunlap, George Brickley, 


*) In those years when class-meetings were held regularly and conscientiously, a 
great outcry was raised against them by some opponents of the Evangelical Associa- 
tion, asserting that such meetings were in principle related to auricular confession in 
the Roman Catholic Church! What folly! Auricular confession is held secretly, it 
is often a shameful espionage, when the inquiring priest sneakingly enters into the 
particulars of married life and the secrets of the family ; but class-meetings were held 
publicly and the inquiry concerned exclusively the present state of personal religion 
and spiritual experience. 


390 HISTORY OF THE [1847, 


Alexander Langsdorf, Daniel N. Long, Daniel Kehr, Jacob Barber, Henry 
Langbrecht, John M. Sindlinger, Abraham Loehner, Aaron Yambert, Abra- 
ham Niebel, John J. Kopp, John Nikolai, John Dreisbach, John Hall, John 
Erb, Henry Niebel, Elias Stcever, Louis Einsel, John Bernhart, John G. 
Miiller, George A. Blank, Samuel Baumgartner. 


§ 256. Extension and Progress of the Work in 1848. 


We insert a synoptical report of the work in the East by the untiring 
Bishop Seybert, as follows : 


‘“ Since General Conference I traveled over a great portion of the West 
Pa, and Hast Pa. Conference districts. We had generally blessed meetings 
and much edification in private conversation and worship with the friends. - 
In the sections of Loyalsack, Blockhouse, Clinton and Center circuits there 
was much weeping and shouting of God’s praises in our meetings, as also 
in Baltimore and on York circuit. In the Hast Pa. Conference during Sum- 
mer and Autumn a great dearth prevailed, but in the latter part of Decem- 
ber the Lord had mercy on us and visited this part of his vine-yard with 
refreshing and saving showers of salvation, so that glorious awakenings 
and revivals took place, especially in Lancaster, Lebanon, Berks, Lehigh, 
and Carbon Counties, and also in Philadelphia, New York, Reading, Leb- 
anon, Orwigsburg, etc. The ministerial brethren also found entrance in sev- 
eral regions where the people to a great extent had been sitting in moral 
darkness, sunken in errors and iniquities—there are now good prospects for 
conversions, A specially blessed work took place recently in the neighbor- 
hood of Kutztown, in Berks County, where a good foundation has already 
been laid by deep, solid conversions, in consequence of which the enemy of 
souls rages furiously through his servants. For twenty years we have en- 
deavored to press into this place with the truth, but every time when the 
word seemed to have taken root the opposition by unconverted ministers 
and their adherents destroyed it again, and the witnesses of the truth were 
driven off, yet at last the answer to the prayer of God's people came, 
his ‘mighty arm did valiantly,’ hearts and houses were opened, and the 
way prepared for the truth. Since the sessions of our Eastern Conferences 
I have traveled over Clinton and Center circuits and enjoyed blessed sea- 
sons with the friends. I am now on my way to the West, well in body and 
full of courage to work with my brethren in promoting God’s cause in my 
office and calling. Soon I expect, the Lord permitting, to enjoy myself in 
the far West upon the green plains and flowery prairies with the saints in 
their poor cabins ! ” 


Bro, Absalom B. Schaefer reported good progress, and many conver- 
sions and also great want of preachers, in order to meet the many calls on 
his large district in the Illinois Conference. Similar reports of victories 
came in from other parts of the Church. 


1848. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIA TION, 391 


§ 257. Conference Sessions—Organizaticn of the New York Conference. 


The East Pa. Conference held its session at Allentown, Pa., February 
28th, 1848, with Bishop Seybert in the chair, Five preachers located and 
four were newly-received on probation. The statistics reported: newly 
converted 703, newly received 1,041, and on the whole 5,169 members. 
The salary of a single preacher was $54.72. At this session the New York 
Conference was organized. The separation of itinerant ministers, who had 
labored together so Jong, was very touching. 

The session of the West Pa, Conference was held at Millheim, Pa., March 
15, with Bishop Seybert presiding. A new mission was established in Balti- 
more (Oldtown.) The editor of the Botscha/ter, who attended the session, 
reported that much zeal and activity in the work of the Lord was mani- 
fested in this Conference. Statistical report: newly-converted 800, newly- 
received 954, whole membership 5,352. Four brethren were received into 
the itinerancy on probation. The salary of the single preacher was $51.84. 

The Ohio Conference met May 10th, at Milton, Stark County, Ohio. 
Both bishops were present. Five brethren were received into the itiner- 
ancy on probation. The salary of a single preacher was $41.10 not a dol- 
lar per week! And still they preached almost daily, and labored courage- 
ously on! The statistics were as follows: newly-converted 347, newly- 
received 494, whole membership 3,908. This Conference adopted strong 
resolutions with regard to procuring parsonages. 

The Illinois Conference went into session June 14th, in Cook County, 
Illinois, with Bishop Seybert in the chair. The great Indiana district was 
divided ; the northern part was called St. Joseph and the southern part 
Wabash district. Four new missions were established and four preachers 
received into the itinerancy on probation. Newly converted 292, newly 
received 551, whole membership 1,980. The salary of a single preacher 
was $65.16—somewhat more than in the older eastern conferences, Bishop 
Long sent the Conference a presert of ten copies of a grammar for which 
the brethren thanked him heartily. Here the motto was—“be steadfast 
and immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye 
know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” 

The preceding figures and items may at a superficial glance appear 
unimportant and of little interest, but they represent a thousand efforts, 
hardships, tears, and struggles, and yet also many glorious victories and 
joyful seasons on account of the hundreds of conversions. All—all will 
be found accurately recorded in the books which shall be opened in the 
great Day of Judgment ! 


§ 258. The Cause of Missions. 
This good cause made considerable progress in the several annual con- 
ferences, but it became gradually a Conference cause instead of being a gen- 
eral co-operative work as was originally intended. The Parent Society was al- 


392 HISTORY OF THE 11849, 


most left without work, because the Conferences both established the missions 
and paid their missionaries. The Society had no General Board in which 
the Conferences were represented, and there was as yet no Kuropean or 
other foreign mission established, requiring united support; the income of 
the Society had dwindled down to almost nothing. In course of time the 
Conferences became practically independent of each other,-and thus mat- 
ters went on until several of them had drifted deeply into debt. The 
admonitions of the Parent Society also remained unheeded until about ten 
years later imperative necessity commanded both attention and reformation 
in this matter. 


§ 259. Unfavorable Result of the Vote concerning the Proposed 
Seminary. 

The vote of the members ordered by the General Conference on the 
Seminary project resulted unfavorably to the school. The chief causes 
were the following :— 

1.—This project was discussed very little in the Church papers. Be- 
sides Bishop Long and a few anonymous correspondents no one wrote 
upon it. 

2.—The needed detailed arrangements for getting out and taking the 
vote had been neglected. 

3.—No specified time—for instance a certain month—was appointed 
and the election was not held everywhere. | 

4.—The Church in general and a large portion of the ministers were not 
yet ripe for such an enterprise. 

d.—By a keen discussion of the cause of higher schools which took 
place sometime before in the Botschafter, fears were created that the matter 
was being pushed upon dangerous grounds—hence about one-half of the 
members did not vote at all, and many preferred voting against it rather 
than in its favor. 

It was a pity that this promising project failed at that time. Bishop 
Long was much grieved over the result, as was Father Dreisbach, the 
originator of it. But the cause of education did not stop on this account 
as we shall see hereafter, It was only retarded. 


§ 260. Portentous Beginning of the Year 1849. 


Already in the latter part of 1848 it was observed that the editor of 
the Christliche Botschafter and the Evangelical Messenger, Nicholas Gehr, 
did not agree with the established doctrine of the Church on Christian 
Perfection, and that in other respects he was not so strictly “ evangelical ”, 
as was expected of an editor of the Church papers. In the Spring of 1849 
this tendency of the editor quite unexpectedly culminated in his resigna- 
tion of the editorship, his withdrawal from the Church and subsequent en- 
trance into the German Reformed Chureh. Thereby the Publishing House 
was placed in a very unpleasant predicament. Bro. Henry Fischer, the 


1849.| EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 393 


managing agent, had to attend immediately to the editing of both papers, 
until the Board could be called together, which then appointed John G. 
Zinser as editor of the Botschafter. He, however, found it necessary to 
decline the appointment. After this William W. Orwig was again 
called to the editorship. 

Fortunately both papers appeared regularly during the interval, because 
the venerable proof-reader, Bro. William Bersch, who possessed considerable 
literary ability and was a faithful servant of the Church, acted as assistant 
editor, and thus was a great help in time of need until all wants could again 
be supplied. Thus this unpleasant episode was passed over, and, in spite 
of all, the papers made good progress. 


§ 261. Conference Sessions. 


The session of the East Pa. Conference commenced March 7th, 1849, 
in Reading, Pa., with Bishop Long in the chair. One of the old preachers, 
John C. Reisner, had to be deposed from the ministry on account of im- 
moral conduct, which caused much grief and sorrow in the Conference. 
The venerable Bishop especially was deeply pained by the sad affair. Bro. 
Jacob Schnerr, who was highly respected and beloved, died happy in the 
Lord while the Conference was in session, the news of which also deeply 
affected this body, though in a greatly different manner. Harrisburg and 
Tamaqua were taken up as missions. The salary of the preachers after 
deducting traveling expenses amounted to from $79 to $100. Membership 
was reported as follows: Newly converted 530, newly received 620, whole 
number 5,904. 

The West Pa, Conference commenced its session March 13th, at Log- 
ansville, Pa., with Bishop Long in the chair. The salary averaged $77. A 
recommendation to General Conference was adopted prohibiting ‘the 
wearing of veils”. A committee of three was appointed to “ adopt measures 
to organize a Sunday School Union in the Evangelical Association.” Five 
brethren were received into the itinerancy. No statistical report was pub- 
lished. 

The New York Conference held its first session beginning April 25th, 
1849, in Buffalo, N. Y., Bishop Long presiding. The statistical report is 
as follows: Newly converted 304, newly received 422, whole number 1,837. 
Salary of a single preacher after deducting traveling expenses $62.52. The 
missions in Albany and Rochester made encouraging progress. Four 
brethren were received into the itinerancy. The prospects of the Conference 
were considered promising. 

The Ohio Conference assembled in Walnut, Pickaway County, Ohio, 
May 16th, Bishop Seybert presiding. The statistical report contained the 
following items: Newly converted 596, newly received 461, whole number 
4,147, Seven brethren were received into the itinerancy, and three located. 
The preachers of this Conference had no prospects for riches, honor or days 


394 THUISTOIRY SOR te [1849. 


of pleasure, but hardships, privations, trials and severe work stared them 
in the face, yet, the record states, when they closed their session, “the 
brethren took their departure, standing in a circle shaking hands with each 
other amidst many tears of brotherly love, singing songs of praise and they 
seemed without exception to receive their allotments of work joyfully and 
with good courage.” What an example of heroism! 

The Illinois Conference held its session at Naperville, Ill., commencing 
June 20th, Bishop Seybert presiding. Two brethren were received on 
probation, and two took a local relation. The membership was reported as 
follows: Newly converted 454, newly received 637, whole number 2,613. 
The salary of a single preacher was $62.16. Three new missions were taken 
up. At the close of the session the record says: ‘“‘ Deeply moved we gave 
each other the parting hand; united in spirit to live or die in the cause 
of the Lord each one hastened to his appointment.” And God was with 
them. 

In these years the conferences were usually closed in this manner. 
The brethren took their departure from Conference with their hearts full of 
fervent brotherly love, inspired with fresh courage and re-invigorated for 
the difficulties and trials of moving with their families when they were 
changed from one field to another—which was often the case—at a time 
when there were no railroads and when they were compelled to live on 
empty purses, their only passion being that sinners might be led to the Saviour 
and the work of the Lord be promoted ! 


§ 262. Many Camp-meetings. 


The reports from camp-meetings at this time testify of glorious pro- 
gress, many conversions and also efforts to extend the work. To ‘secure 
new appointments ” and make conquests was the prominent characteristic 
of those days in the Church. Thirty-five camp-meetings were announced 
in the year, but still more were held. 

It was quite difficult to compile statistics that were even approximately 
correct, chiefly on account of many changes of boundaries, and very many 
removals of members from the Hast to the West, the immense territory of 
which was rapidly opened for settlement. We have been unable for several 
years to give full statistics, but according to the conference statistics of 
1849 the whole membership amounted to about 20,000. 


§ 263. Conversion of John Walz. 


As a remarkable instance of the nature and genuineness of the great 
majority of conversions in the Evangelical Association about this time, we 
insert a brief description of the conversion of Rev. John Walz. Bro. Walz 
is well known in the entire Association as a useful preacher of the Gospel, 
as missionary in Europe since 1864, where he has served a number of years 
as presiding elder, and as successful manager of the Publishing House o 
the Church in Stuttgart, Wuerttemburg. 


1849. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 395 


In the Summer of 1849 John Walz, then a young man, came from 
Wuerttemberg, Germany, and after a long and difficult voyage arrived in 
Erie, Pennsylvania, How he was there led to the Lord we permit him to 
tell, as follows : 

On the Sunday after his arrival he went to a church to hear parson St. 
preach. The Gospel for the day was read, followed by singing and prayer 
and the announcement of the text, viz. “Offer unto God thanksgiving and 
pay thy vows unto the Most High.” Psalm 50, 14. Upon this he said to 
himself: “ You are the ungrateful one who does not pay his vows.’ But 
the impression was only superficial, and on his return from the church it 
had already passed away. For two months he lived on in sin again. The 
saloon was visited almost every evening and on Sunday with even greater 
frequency. It was frequently told him that fresh immigrants who had 
arrived in the hot season must drink brandy, in order to prevent cholera 
and dysentery. He believed this falsehood and was thereby induced to 
drink frequently. 

After two months he had a dispute with his employer and left him. 
He found another, Conrad Doll, a member of the Evangelical Association. 
When he told his comrades, whom he met in the saloon, they ex- 
claimed : “ Hoh! you will yet join the fanatics! You will soon fall away 
from the faith!” “Well, what is the matter with that man,’ inquired 
Walz. ‘“ Why, he has already induced many of his workmen to deny their 
faith! He belongs to a sect, who scream, groan, Jump, dance, and fall into 
each others arms in the church! They are the most infamous people under 
the sun!’’ was the remarkable answer. Walz was for some minutes at a 
loss to know what to say to this; at last he remarked: “ Then it seems 
they have no God of order but of disorder. How then 1s that man in his 
every-day life?’’ Upon this an elderly man replied: “In this respect Mr. 
Doll is blameless ; I have known him for a long time, he defrauds no one, 
you are sure to get your pay if you work for him.” “Well, I regard it as 
being very disgraceful to break a promise. I will go there. What do I 
care about his religion ; I will take care of myself, I will not fall away from 
the faith.” 

At that time Walz in common with many others entertained the er- 
roneous view that the act of joining another Christian denomination was a 
falling away from the faith. But this may be done without having any 
saving faith. “Falling away from true faith” in God can only take place 
when a union with Him has existed, namely when by faith he dwells in us 
and we then forsake him by sinning, 

Mr. Walz now began to work for Bro. Doll in the shoe business. He 
soon asked his employer: “What sort of worship do you have? I hear 
that you scream,” etc. Mr. Doll smiled and said, “ We have a meeting for 
worship to-morrow evening, then you had better come along and see for 


yourself.” In the evening when the clock had struck nine Mr. Doll said to 
26 
f 


396 HISTORY OF THE [1849. 


his workmen, “ Now, come in,’ meaning thereby that they should come 
from the work-shop into the sitting room. He went in himself and some of 
the employes followed. Walz, however, said: “That does not mean me, 
for I have nothing to do in that room ?’’ Whereupon one of the men, Mr. 
Hampe, said: “ Yes, you are to come, too.” Then he went in, too—each 
one then stood up and they began to sing an evening hymn. After sing- 
ing they knelt down and Hampe commenced to pray from the heart. But 
Walz stood there astounded, “ What is this?” he thought, “are these peo- 
ple Catholics? Such a thing I have not seen in my life! If they are 
Catholics, then you as a Lutheran must not kneel with them.” Thus he 
struggled inwardly until the prayer was nearly finished ; finally he thought 
he might kneel for once, for nobody would see him except these people, 
and when he would find out that they were Catholics, then he would kneel 
no more. In the morning before breakfast a chapter in the Bible was read, 
and Mr. Doll prayed. 

The evening when the meeting was to be held came on, and Walz was 
invited to come along, which he did. The singing, prayer and the sermon 
pleased him well, but during the prayer after preaching loud voices were 
heard here and there, saying: “ Amen! Praise the Lord! Lord grant it!” 
An elderly woman especially displeased him, for whenever she said “Amen,” 
he felt a thrill going through his body, so that he became afraid. “This 
ought not to be so,” he thought, “for the Bible says: Be silent before the 
Lord.” It seemed to him such worship was not in accordance with the 
Bible, for he believed that those words were to be understood literally, and 
forgot that the primitive Christians themselves were not altogether silent 
in their worship. 

While at work in the shop there was much conversation concerning 
the experience of religion. Mr. Hampe especially delighted in this, and 
frequently brought Walz into a tight place, from which the latter labored 
to escape. At last he thought: “Well, I was not a blockhead in school 
either, I can also learn these prayers, then I will be as good as they are.” 
But he knew not himself and supposed he lacked nothing but committing 
these prayers to memory, but the more he paid attention to these things 
the more he was wrought upon, and he soon ascertained also that these 
prayers were not always the same. Now he seemed to wake up and began 
to say the prayers again, which his mother had taught him in his child- 
hood. But how miserably he began to feel now! He realized that he 
could not pray the Lord’s prayer and keep his thoughts fixed upon God 
He would repeatedly try even for hours, but failed; worldly and evil 
thoughts would rush in upon him. “Oh,” he groaned, “I am the most 
wretched being; if I only were like these people! Soon after this the 
biography of Michael Hahn fell into his hands, which he read again and 
again, especially that part which describes his conversion. ‘Oh, how re- 


1849.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIA TION. 397 


markable is this!” he exclaimed, “ O God if such an experience is possible 
let me also realize it!” 

At one time on Saturday evening he had thought of going to the sa- 
loon when Mr. Doll said to him pleasantly: ‘“ Will you go to Church this 
evening, Mr. Apothecary?” This set Walz to thinking that he had better 
go to Church than to the saloon. The text was: “He hath filled the 
hungry with good things and the rich he hath sent empty away.” Luke 
1,53. He had peculiar feelings whilst these words were expounded. Al- 
ternately he felt hot and cold, sometimes he thought somebody was pulling 
him upward by his hair. He could not understand this, and actually looked 
toward the stove, thinking that the fire might be the cause of this, or else 
there might be a severe cold working in his physical system. 

At the close of the meeting, they shook hands with each other while 
chatting and smiling 1n a most friendly manner. ‘“ Ah,” he said to himself, 
“the preacher has spoken so sharply and yet these people can smile !’’ 
Tears came into his eyes, but he hastened away from the Church, so that 
no one should see him weeping, believing that it was unmanly for a young 
man to be found weeping. On his way home he had a clear conviction and 
felt deeply that he was a sinner. 

Never before did he have such a knowledge of sin. “QO how unhappy 
am I,” he said, “ while tears rolled down his cheeks ; with these people I 
have no enjoyment and with the world neither. I am the most unfortunate 
man under the sun; why am [ not a beast or a vegetable—why a human 
being to be so unhappy?” Filled with such thoughts and feelings he 
reached the house and retired, but no sleep came to his eyes. Morning 
came and the sun came up on the horizon shining beautifully, but in his 
soul all was dark as night; no other light was there, but that which re- 
vealed to him his sinfulness and impurity. It seemed to him that every- 
thing around him was mourning, and his appetite had left him. 

When the time for Church service arrived on Sunday morning Mr. 
Hampe said to him: “Come with me to Church, we celebrate the Lord’s 
Supper, and you may then see how we do this.” “No,” he replied, “I'll go 
to your Church no more—you have at times such a cold and then again 
such a hot fire. Dll go to my Church”-—and so he did. The parson 
preached on the text John 2, 1-11. In the course of his remarks he said 
among other things: 

“We Germans need not — the Sabbath-day holy as the Americans 
and Puritans do; we may go to the tavern and drink one or two glasses of 
beer, only so that we don’t become intoxicated, and swear, and fight. Look 
back to Moses’ times—where it is said: ‘Sell your clothes and buy strong 
drink,’ look here into the Gospel where we read: ‘ Every man at the begin- 
ing doth set forth good wine, and when men have well drunk then that 
which is worse.’ It is said in the newspapers nowadays that alcohol might 
be called a devil, but I might call him a devil who says this of alcohol.” 


398 HISTORY OF THE [1849. 


When Walz heard this he thought: “ We Germans are under the same 
obligation to keep the Sabbath-day holy as the English people are, and this 
man is a priest who leads us on to hell. The command: ‘Remember the 
Sabbath-day, to keep it holy,’ is also intended for us.” 

Church being out, Mr. Walz was afraid to go back to the house. He 
knew that the Evangelical preacher would be there with other members 
from the country. He felt himself unworthy to be in their company, and 
thought they could see what a great sinner he was. A great change had 
come over him. Before this he deemed himself as good as the best among 
them and even much better than some who belonged to them. When they 
were happy he thought it was not proper for persons who wanted to be such 
good Christians. He harbored the erroneous idea that a true Christian 
may not be joyful but must always look downcast—and yet they are ex-. 
horted : “ Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice.” He 
who hath forgiveness of sins may indeed rejoice, for there is life and 
happiness. 

Since he had become awakened he thought highly of those who pro- 
fessed pardon of their sins, and although some of them regarded him as a 
selfrighteous pharisee, yet he defended them before the world when false- 
hoods were uttered against them. Thus he came to occupy a middle 
position. Some Christians regarded him as a pharisee and the children of 
the world called him a Methodist. (There were however, no German 
Methodists in Erie but the Evangelical members were thus designated.) 
Mr. Walz did not go home, but went to the saloon, in order to get rid of his 
sorrow ; but this sadness went with him and whilst his comrades laugh- 
ingly emptied one glass after the other, he sat meditatively in a quiet 
corner. Suddenly some one exclaimed: “ Look—there sits Walz, how sad 
he looks—soon he will be a Methodist !”” He could not hide his tears and 
left the room sighing: “Oh, that I had a good heart !” 

He now called upon one of his countrymen and had scarcely entered 
his house when he was asked: “I hope you won't go to these people ?” 
‘“T cannot tell,” he replied. Never before had he given such an answer 
when he was questioned, he would always say, “That will never happen.” 
“Q, don’t do that,” it was now said, “it would be a disgrace for the whole 
family if you fall away from the faith ; you will be despised and suffer great 
damage; when you start a business for yourself no one will buy anything 
of you. Yea, your sainted mother’s bones will turnin the grave! O, don’t 
disturb her, you cannot answer for it in the Day of Judgment.” He 
remained silent, took hold of a Bible, read a little, but finding no rest, he 
left and entered into another house. 

Here he found a gathering of different persons, who talked of whatever 
came uppermost until they touched also the Evangelical Association, when 
they attacked their doctrines and manner of worship. For some time he 
listened in silence, but when they said things against them which he knew 


1849.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION, 399 


to be utterly false he arose and said: “ You calumniate these people. 
Has any one of you seen or heard it of themselves what you are talking 
bere? I am now four months among them, and have watched them closely, 
and 1 am convinced that they are better than we are. What you are talk- 
ing about here is simply repeating hearsay, but it is false. Since I know 
them I have seen nothing of the kind. Of course they are no angels, but 
they are better than we are; they do not live in open sin, they pray in 
simplicity to God and often they come with illuminated faces from their 
closets, so that I am constrained to marvel at them ; they are friendly and 
loving—and yet I cannot bear their looks. I tell you there is something 
in these people that we do not understand, however much we may blame 
them. What you say about their doctrines is also incorrect. I have been 
in their meetings and have had many conversations with them. I notice 
that they insist upon repentance, faith, regeneration, and good works, but 
not in the sense of thereby meriting heaven, but that by grace through faith 
in Christ we must be justified, and heaven also was given by grace. But 
if faith was of the rigat kind it would work by love, a faith that brings no 
good works would be a dead faith and could not save. And is not this 
precisely what the Holy Scriptures also teach? Read only the New Testa- 
ment, and you will find it so. True, they teach also things that I do not 
understand, for instance, that a person who is born again and has become 
a child of God will know this by the witness of the Holy Spirit and his 
own life, and a man could not err in this when the Spirit bears witness with 
his spirit that he is a child of God. I have told them frequently that they 
only imagine these things, for the Spirit came only at the first pentecost 
upon men, but now he would not concern himself about them ; but they 
refer me to Matthew 7.16: “By their fruits ye shall know them’, and 
Romans 8. 16: ‘ The Spirit itself beareth witness with our Spirit, that we 
are the children of God.’ That a man who deliberately lives in sin cannot 
be a regenerated man, we can all comprehend, but that the Spirit of God 
gives a man the assurance of his new birth we cannot understand. But our 
unbelief does not absolutely prove that it cannot be so. May there not be 
some things in religion that we do not understand?” Walz then further 
defended their mode of worship, kneeling in prayer, etc., which provoked 
some of those present to wrath. There was especially one woman who 
became quite angry and began to rail at him: “ You fat Methodist—you 
‘will soon have screamed yourself lean ; you will yet become a Methodist 
priest,—soon you will ride off on a white horse!” Thus she continued for 
awhile and finally leaped for anger. Walz remained silent, but it 
seemed remarkable to him that no one present found fault with the woman 
for jumping from sheer wrath, yet when praying people leap for joy they 
mock them as did Michal King David, and say they conduct themselves 
like vagabonds. 
When Sunday evening came Walz desired to go to Church again, but 


400 HISTORY OF THE [1849, 


was afraid that the sermon might affect him so much that he could not re- 
frain from weeping which appeared to him to be disgraceful. ‘“ What shall 
I do?” he asked himself. The thought then occurred to him that if a 
great crowd would be there, it would not affect him so much as if there 
were but few present. In haste he went around to houses and saloons 
where he was acquainted, inviting people to Church in this manner: “ Come 
with me to the Evangelical Church, they are converting people, let us see 
how they conduct themselves ’’—and he got the Church pretty well-filled. 
‘The sermon affected him somewhat; at the close an invitation was given 
to such as were sorrowing on account of their sins, to come forward and 
kneel at the altar of prayer where friends would pray with them and point 
them to the Saviour for salvation from sin by faith in him. This he had 
never heard before and thought to himself: “ Ye foolish people—whom will. 
you get forward!” Suddenly the melting influence left him, and his heart 
became hard as stone. After worship was closed he went home resolving 
never to go to that Church again. On Monday evening he staid away, al- 
though his employer had said that the hands were excused from work—all 
might go to meeting. At the breakfast table next morning the preacher, 
Rev. John Nicolai, asked him: “ Why did you not come to Church last 
night?” Walz answered: “I shall go no more into your Church.” The 
preacher looked at him and smilingly said: ‘Yes, you will come again.” 
At this Walz’s eyes fell, he could look up no more, for it seemed to him 
the preacher could see into his wicked heart. 

Next evening all went to meeting again, excepting Mr. Walz, and a Mr. 
K., who was a Catholic ; they remained in the shop at their work. Neither 
of them disturbed the other by talking, nothing was heard, but the sounds 
of the hammer and the whizzing of the thread. Mr. Walz was considering 
plans how to get away quickly from this place, for he thought if he could 
leave this house he would obtain inward rest. Suddenly he broke this si- 
lence by saying: “I wish that the snow was not so deep, or that the lake 
was not frozen over, so that vessels could sail—to-morrow I would leave 
this place, for I cannot endure it longer here, my inward peace is entirely 
gone, and when I go to Church something thrills all my members and I 
fee] as if somebody was lifting me up by the hair—I do not know, indeed, 
what this means.” Upon this Mr. K. said: “It is just the same with me 
when [ go to their Church, I do not understand at all what a Spirit that 
is.” “Yes,” said Walz, “but you are well off yet, at 9 o’clock you can go 
home to your family ; but I have to stay here at meals and at family wor- 
ship in the morning and evening. When we are called to the table then 
we have prayer first, so that one cannot get away—one is compelled to 
listen to it ; the thing is unendurable—oh, that the vessels could sail!” 

Mr. K. then went home and Walz being left alone, took up a New 
Testament which one of his converted comrades had left on the work-bench ; 
on opening it his eyes fell on Acts 6, 5: “And the saying pleased the 





1849. | EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 401 


whole multitude, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy 
Ghost.” Now his eyes were opened—‘a man full of faith and the Holy 
Ghost, and you deny that the Holy Spirit operates upon man!”—a voice 
spoke within. Now he saw that the realization of his sins and repentance 
on account thereof was already an operation of the Holy Spirit. Oh, what 
a fearful sinner he now was! He began to feel the wrath of God upon his 
sins. At this instant the door opened and Mr. Hampe stepped in, having 
come back from the meeting. “ What ails you, Walz?” he exclaimed, but 
he got no answer from W., who trembled all over his body. Hampe step- 
ped into the room and Walz retired; as he went up the stairway he felt as 
if he was sinking into perdition. The words “where there will be weeping 
and gnashing of teeth,” came to his mind with great force. He already felt 
something of the worm that dieth not and of the fire that is not quenched. 
He went to bed and Hampe also came into the room. After the latter had 
silently prayed Walz said to him: “You people say always that you sin 
not, I will admit that you sin not in acts and words, but you do it in your 
thoughts,” whereupon Hampe replied: “I cannot hinder birds from flying 
over my head, but I can prevent them from building a nest uponit.” Mr. Walz 
now kept silence and Hampe exhorted him to turn to God and seek salva- 
tion from sin through Christ. This touched him deeply, his sins became to 
him exceedingly sinful. He could not refrain from weeping aloud, but he 
held the cover over his mouth, so that he might not be heard. The sins of 
his thoughts now appeared fearful to him and more numerous than the 
hairs on his head and the sands on the sea-shore. He saw that he had in- 
deed deserved hell and his distress increased, he realized his great danger 
and his inability to escape from it. Finally he cried out: “O Saviour 
here I am, do with me as thou pleasest !” Suddenly his burden left him, 
the view of his sins vanished and he heard the inward voice: “Thy sins 
are forgiven thee.” He now saw that Christ indeed had died for him, and 
he now felt such a strong and deep love for him, springing up in his heart 
that words could not express it. He felt that he must praise Him aloud 
but he held his mouth closed, but then the power of God lifted him up in 
his bed. Now he had a peace he never knew before and the Spirit of God 
bore witness with his Spirit that he was a child of God. 


Now he possessed a peace of soul he never before knew and an intense 
longing sprang up in his heart that his acquaintances might also be saved 
and he formed the resolution, he would go to them and tell what the Lord 
had done for him, expecting that they then would believe also. This was a 
glorious night for him. But now came the tempter and insinuated: “Now 
you have religion, but tell it to nobody ; your parson once preached we 
should not make much ado about it, but keep it in the heart, that was the 
right place,” etc. He thought this was good doctrine—but when he arose 
in the morning his joy was so great that he exclaimed: “Now, Hampe, I 


402 AISLORY: OF AI, [1849. 


also have got religion!” The latter then told it at the breakfast table and 
they all rejoiced together that he had found this pearl of great price. 

On the third day he sought his acquaintances and told them the won- 
drous doings of the Lord. Some of them looked at him with silent won- 
der, because they could not comprehend why he spoke thus joyfully about 
spiritual things; others pitied him, considering it a great loss to him, that 
he was now going with those despised people. His former comrades en- 
deavored several times to entice him into the saloon, but in vain, for he 
was steadfast and bore a clear, positive testimony against such places and 
gatherings. Being unsuccessful in this wise they began to persecute him 
by scoffing at him when on Sunday evenings he returned from worship in 
the Church. But they could not anger him nor scare him, he rejoiced in 
the reproach of Christ and pitied his persecutors, because he knew they . 
were doing it in ignorance and unbelief. 


§ 264. Biographical Sketches. 


Bro. Jacob Schnerr was born May 17, 1806, in Adams County, Pa. 
He was the child of poor, but honest parents. In his 12th year the Evan- 
gelical preachers came into his neighborhood, and he became enlightened 
and in his 22nd year, 1828, he was converted and soon afterward joined the 
Evangelical Association and soon his class,—Spring Mills—elected him 
exhorter. This office was to him a great responsibility, and he began to 
seek wisdom and grace by fasting and prayer, in order to become useful— 
and the future preacher began to be restless in him, Several circumstances 
connected with his call to preach are remarkable; he relates the following : 
“Tn the month of May, 1828, precisely one year after my conversion, Bro. 
Abraham Buchmann sent word to me, to come to his house, because a local 
preacher was holding a meeting there. I had to go 13 miles and came 
there on Saturday evening and stayed till Sunday afternoon. When I made 
ready for my return home Bro. Buchmann said I should yet tarry a little 
as he wanted first to go to his barn, from where he presently returned with 
a young horse. I thought he intended to accompany me part of the way, 
but then he led the fine, spirited animal to me, and said: ‘ Here, Bro. 
Schnerr, you have a horse, saddle and bridle—God wants you to preach the 
Gospel, and I know you haven’t got the means—here they are—and don’t 
you feel the call?’ I could not answer, but my eyes were filled with tears, 
Here this man of God stood and told me wonderful things, each word pen- 
etrated my soul, and my strength failed me. Finally I was helped on the 
waiting horse, I wept, and the aged servant of the Lord wept and—praised 
God! Amidst the heartiest good wishes I left the place. But what a 
burden did I now feel! Is it possible, I said to myself —that I shall preach 
the word of God? But it had to be so—the call was too definite, so that 
I could not resist.” At the following Conference, in June, 1829, he was 
received into the itinerancy and appointed to York circuit. 


1849. | EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION, 403 


In his first year he once made an appointment for a Sunday evening ; 
a large concourse of people gathered and the word made a deep impression. 
One man literally fell to the ground, together with six others, and all of 
them cried for mercy and five were happily converted to God. After Bro. 
Schnerr had served on several fields of labor with great success, he labored 
in 1832 and 1833 on the large Lebanon circuit and had several extensive 
revivals ; many souls were led to the Lord. He and his colleagues had 
much trouble with a fanatic named Keely, but in a short time “his occu- 
pation was gone.” 

Bro. Schnerr once preached in Newmanstown, near Womelsdorf, where 
an adherent of Keely was present, who frequently interrupted the preacher 
with insults. Bro, Schnerr suddenly stopped and said, as with a voice of 
thunder: “If this man D, says one word more before [ am done, then the 
Almighty God has not sent me to preach the Gospel !”—and actually the 
scoffer was immediately silenced. First he looked at the preacher with 
astonishment, then he hung his head and his lips were closed until after the 
sermon was ended. This showed the strong courageous faith of this evan- 
gelical preacher. 

Bro. Schnerr was also the first to commence the work in Philadelphia, 
On the 29th of November, 1833, he made his first visit there and sought 
out German people. He found entrance with a man named Roemer on 
Poplar Lane, only about 50 feet from the place where afterward the first 
church was built. The woman of the house at first refused to let him 
preach there, but after he had prayed with them, she consented. On that 
same evening he preached on the words: “ What must I do to be saved ?” 
After preaching he received an invitation to preach in another house also, 
which he did on the following evening—this was in the house of Mr. Gut- 
brod, who, with his wife were afterward for many years active and useful 
members of the Philadelphia Church. Another of the attendants of the 
meeting became so strongly attached to the plain unostentatious preacher 
that he took him into his house and entertained him. This was Father 
Wagner whose house remained from that time forward a home for the ser- 
vants of God. This first visit lasted only a few days, but was so successful 
that the people arranged among themselves to hold prayer-meetings and 
began to think of building a church for Bro. Schnerr, if he would come 
again. On the 10th of December he made his second visit to the city, but 
could stay only a few days; he preached twice with great power, and four 
souls were converted to God. On the 21st of January, 1834, and on the 
25th of February he again visited Philadelphia, and the number of hearers 
and penitents increased until 14 persons were seeking salvation. He 
repeated his visit in the month of April. During the latter visit he preached 
nine times, organized a society with 30 members and administered the 
Lard’s Supper to the new converts. Five visits and such success! When 
on the last evening he held his farewell sermon the entire membership and 


404 AISTORY (OF TITLE [1849. 


a number of seekers of salvation lay on their knees. The work had already 
obtained a strong foothold. 

Bro. Schnerr and his colleagues had also great success in the countics 
of Lehigh, Berks, Lebanon, and in the town of Lebanon. After a year of 
much suffering Conference sent him to Philadelphia, which had been made 
a station. This then was the first station in the Evangelical Association 
and Bro. Schnerr was the first “ Station-preacher.” It was to him a great 
responsibility to accept this appointment, but trusting in God he undertook 
it and entered upon the work courageously. There was no lack of opposi- 
tion, bitter enemies endeavored to hinder the work with all their might, 
but in spite of them the number of converts increased almost daily. 

Among the remarkable conversions that took place two are specially 
notable. A woman, whose two daughters commenced seeking the Loid, 
while they called upon God for mercy in one of the meetings, came full of 
wrath into that meeting, intending to take her daughters away. While 
acting thus she suddenly sank to the floor, lost her strength and became 
speechless. She was then carried to her house, and in spite of all efforis 
of the physicians died in less than four hours. The daughters continued 
to seek the Lord until they found him to the joy of their hearts, when 
they learned to their great sorrow what happened to the mother. By this 
event deep conviction was wrought in many hearts and not a few learned 
to understand that it was a great risk to fight against God and his cause. 
Bro. Schnerr also found an open door in Germantown. The following 
year (1836) he had again surprising success in Philadelphia. Within a 
few months 40 persons were converted to God, and he wrote: “ We can 
truly say: The Lord hath done great things whereof we are glad.” He 
then inaugurated the first movement toward building a church in that city. 

He served as itinerant preacher for about 10 years until 1838, when 
during his labors on Womelsdorf circuit he broke down. After that he 
lived 11 years, but was so feeble in body that he could rarely preach, yet 
he endeavored to be useful by other labors, as colporter, etc. He died on 
the 10th of March, 1849, being only in his 43rd year. When in the last 
hour he already looked beyond the bounds of time and space, he exclaimed : 
“JT am clinging by faith to my Saviour—Satan, world, and death cannot 
harm me!” 

One of the older preachers said of him: “Bro. Schnerr proved him- 
self to be a zealous, powerful, and lively preacher. In his discourses he 
was quite simple, but penetrating. His chief aim was to save souls and 
hence he sought to show the sinner his miserable condition with much 
sympathy. He lifted up Christ in every sermon. The doctrines and dis- 
cipline of the Evangelical Association, he defended vigorously, though he 
would not meddle with non-essentials. Fanatical people with their revela- 
tions found no access to him. On his fields of labor he was very much 
beloved, and wherever he went, he left a blessing.’’ With another aged 


1849. | EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 405 


minister we join in his prayerful wish: “ May his consecration to God and 
devoted activity in his work serve as an impressive example to all our 
preachers and members !”’ 

Bro. Frederick L. Stoever was a young man of unusual talents. He 
made a blessed start in the ministry and much good was expected of him. 
We saw him at a camp-meeting, about a month before his decease, where he 
took a very active part in the work. It sometimes seemed as if the “glory 
of God in the face of Jesus Christ’? which shone into his happy soul, 
illuminated his countenance, especially when he sang his favorite chorus : 
“ Bald haben wir tiberwunden, dann geh’n wir in die Ruh’,” which turned 
out to be a prophecy for him that was soon after fulfilled. His preacher in 
charge, Rev. Frederick Kroecker, sent the following biography in the form 
of a letter to the editor of the Christliche Botschafter, dated September 
17th, 1849: “Itis with feelings of deepest sorrow that I report the de- 
cease of my dear colleague, Frederick L. Stoever, preacher of the Gospel, 
who died on the 14th of September, in Germantown, Pa. He was sick only 
13 days with an inflammatory fever, by which he suffered at times intensely. 
On Sunday, September 8th, he was to preach here, and when he opened 
worship in the morning and engaged in prayer he almost fainted. But 
when he commenced to preach on Romans 14, 17-18 he was strengthened 
and finished his sermon. He attempted to preach again in the evening, 
but could read only his text. A physician was immediately called, who 
did all he could to save his life, but the Lord bad ordered otherwise. The 
friends of Germantown were with him day and night. I wrote to his par- 
ents in Lebanon who arrived here, filled with great sorrow when they saw 
their beloved son so near eternity, yet it was a great satisfaction to them to 
exchange a few words with him and receive his testimony that he was 
about entering into the joy of his Lord. Some ministers from other de- 
nominations also called and prayed for him. 

‘‘When I came to him on Sunday, September 8th, he was so filled with 
divine joy that he exclaimed: ‘Glory! Hallelujah! O thou sweet Jesus ! 
Thou fairest among ten thousand !’ 

“About one hour before his death Father Beck asked him how he was 
doing—when he answered ‘Jesus is my all in all.’ His last words were 
‘Hallelujah! Hallelujah! and then he departed. 

“Bro. Stoever sought the Lord when he was but seven years old, where- 
by he escaped many dangers to which young people are exposed. He joined 
the Evangelical Association quite early and remained a faithful member to 
the end. He was much interested in the Sunday-school cause, and was for 
a number of years a main support of our Sunday-school in the town of 
Lebanon. He greatly delighted in instructing children. 

“In the Spring of this year he attended the Hast Pa. Conference in the 
city of Reading, and was received into the itinerancy and appointed as my 
colleague on Germantown circuit. I was never more rejoiced over a 


406 AISTORY (OF LAR (1849. 


colleague than over him, and we labored together with the greatest 
pleasure. 

“Ag a preacher of the Gospel he was courageous, fearless, and power- 
ful. He attacked all forms of sin, and being constrained by the love of 
Christ, he would warn the sinner of his danger and admonished professors 
of religion not to be satisfied witi the name and form of Christianity, but 
to seek the power and press toward holiness of heart. He was diligent in 
prayer; he told me sometime ago that during the last three years he had 
his happiest seasons in secret prayer. In his conduct he was virtuous and 
enjoyed the esteem of all who became acquainted with him. In the family 
circle he was entertaining and edifying, which made his company very 
acceptable. At camp-meetings, protracted meetings, etc., he enjoyed him- 
self greatly in uniting with the friends, praising God in singing and prayer. — 
We shall never forget the blessed times we had together during the past 
Summer. Often the showers of divine blessings came upon us!” 


1816.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 407 


THE EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION IN 
CANADA. 


§ 1. German Immigrants. 


In this beautiful neighboring country God has begun a great and glo- 
rious work of salvation and prospered it until this day. This blessed work 
is of such importance and in its inception and progress it was interwoven 
with so many remarkable and joyous events that it seems proper to devote 
a special section to its history. 

About the time when the revolutionary war was in full blast in the 
United States (then provinces), and for sometime after, a considerable 
number of German Mennonites from Bucks County, and later on also from 
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, immigrated into Canada and established 
settlements in Lincoln, Waterloo, Haldimand, Welland and Wentworth 
Counties and other sections of what was then “ Upper Canada” (now On- 
tario). They entertained conscientious scruples about war and believed 
that they were in duty bound to remain faithful to the Government of 
Great Britain. As Canada was already at that time subject to England 
this fact coincided with their religious views about war and loyalty to that 
government.* 

From time to time still other immigrants arrived from Germany and 
settled in the southern counties of Upper Canada, With regard to Church 
privileges, these settlers remained for a long time like sheep without a 
shepherd—excepting, perhaps, the Mennonites—and sank, unconverted as 
they were, deep into the mire of sin and crime. True, men occasionally 
appeared among them who pretended to be preachers of the Gospel, but 
who were destitute of credentials and would soon become unmasked as 
depraved and rascally impostors, who greatly accelerated the downward 
course of the people into vice, by false doctrines and vicious examples. 

Already in the year 1816 the Evangelical Association felt great sym- 
pathy for these lost sheep in the moral wilderness, and Bro, John Dreisbach 
visited them during that year, but the Association was as yet too weak to 
lay hold upon the work so faraway. It was 20 years later when they found 
themselves able by God’s grace to commence the holy war against sin 
in Upper Canada, and, thank God, the effort was gloriously crowned 
with one victory after another ! 


*) See a very interesting report in “ History of the Mennonites” pp. 309-325, by 
Daniel K. Cassel. 


408 LIT ST ORV EOP ALLL [1816. 


§ 2. Religious and Ecclesiastical Situation. 


Bishop Seybert, who here, as well as almost everywhere else, placed 
himself in the front rank of the battling soldiers for Christ, has left us an 
interesting and clear statement on “The Beginning and Progress of the 
Work in Upper Canada,” which we insert here : 

“ By confessions the German inhabitants of Upper Canada in North 
America were Catholics, Lutherans, Reformed, Mennonites, and Old Baptists. 
Some called themselves also Evangelicals. The United Brethren in Christ 
also had visited them, whereby some people became awakened and con- 
verted to God ; but they afterward dropped the work and nothing permanent 
remained. Their preacher was deposed from the ministry on account of 
immoral conduct, whereupon the disciples of Alexander Campbell received 
him before he left Canada. Their presiding elder also associated himseif 
with the Campbellites, and thus the United Brethren did not carry through 
their work in Canada. Everything then remained in its old condition 
among those Germans, and the condition of the people generally became 
worse. 

“The Catholics, Lutherans and Reformed generally sat in thick moral 
darkness during the first half of the 19th century, because they did not 
have the light of life. Hven their preachers were mostly immoral charac- 
ters; some of them would get drunk at every opportunity ; even while 
performing the sacred duties of infant baptism, they would appear in an 
intoxicated condition, so that they could not properly proceed with the 
transactions ; but afterward pandemonium would be let loose. Then the 
priest, the god-fathers, relatives and visitors would get dead-drunk, so that 
they could scarcely find their way home again. One of these ‘jolly’ pas- 
tors became so completely intoxicated at a wedding and baptism of an infant 
in Puslinch that he fell from a chair. His adherents helped him up and 
put him on the chair again. The woman of the house, however, angrily 
protested exclaiming with a shrill voice: ‘Why don’t you let him lie on 
the floor ?’ 

“Tn the vicinity of Hamburg there was a shocking condition of affairs 
in a moral respect. Once a Lutheran pastor intended to administer the 
Lord's Supper on Easter Monday. The appointment had been regularly 
made and he also arrived in good time in Hamburg; but he was met by a 
few of his members one of whom carried a small keg of beer on his shoul- 
der and the other had a fiddle. They demanded of the pastor to postpone 
the sacrament, because they had arranged for a dance on that day. He 
complied with the request ; the sacrament was postponed to another time, 
and the dance took its place! But this pastor did not fare very well after 
all. He staid with a man named Schmidt, and after he had retired to bed 
at a late hour one of his jolly brethren—a son of Bacchus—rushed angrily 
into the house, demanding: ‘Where is the pastor?’ ‘In bed,’ Schmidt 


1835. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 409 


replied, ‘what do you want of him?’ ‘Why, I will club him, because he 
has received so much of my money and has never benefited me any.’ Mr. 
Schmidt now had to exert all his influence to restrain this man or else the 
pastor would no doubt have received a severe flogging, for having been so 
accommodating as to postpone sacrament for his wanton members. Said 
Mr. Schmidt, who was then a rationalist, was afterward converted to God 
and became a useful preacher among us, serving for many years as a presid- 
ing elder in the New York and Canada Conferences, 

“Among the Catholics shocking events occurred. At one time a priest 
wanted to bestow extreme unction upon a dying child in Puslinch, but the 
child’s father forbade it. After the child’s death the priest forbade its 
burial in the Catholic Cemetery, but those interested managed to bury its 
body at night. When this came to the ears of the priest he had it disin- 
terred and sold the body for money to a physician. When this shocking 
affair became public the police took hold of the matter and the priest took 
to flight! The Lutherans about this time held a Church dedication in 
Waterloo, which was turned into a bacchanalian frolic. The more respecta- 
ble portion of the people now began to deplore this state of things, and the 
deterioration of their Churches, for the wickedness of their pastors had 
become too manifest to be endured; although the drunkards and swearers 
usually excused them by saying: ‘We must do according to the words of 
our pastors, and not according to their works.’ 

“Among the Mennonites there was still a better appearance, at least out- 
wardly ; many of them endeavored to lead a quiet, virtuous, peaceable 
life. But as regards the spiritual life that comes from God, the new birth 
and the renewal of heart by the Holy Ghost, they were generally ignorant, 
knowing nothing of the blessedness of true godliness. The same condition 
of things prevailed among the old Baptists (Dunkers); they were dead 
and cold. Among the ‘ Herr’s people’ (New Mennonites) some may have 
had a religious heart-experience, but they were very egotistical and sepa- 
rated from all other good men and could therefore do nothing for the im- 
provement of the German people of Upper Canada, hence there was no im- 
provement in the general condition of these unfortunate people.” 


§ 3. Initiation of the Work. 


Of this Bishop Seybert now comes to speak, as follows: ‘The initia- 
tory movement to our work occurred in the following manner: Somewhere 
in the fourth decade of the 19th century a pretended Methodist of Canada 
kidnapped the daughter of a Catholic in the State of New York under the 
pretence of affording her more freedom, and a good education and an op- 
portunity to learn the truths of religion. But suspicion fell upon this pre- 
tender that he intended to forsake his own wife to live adulterously with 
this young lady. The Catholic father was in great distress concerning his 
daughter and was on the search for some one well-qualified to go with him 


410 HISTORY OF THE [1838. 


to rescue her. For this purpose he engaged one of our brethren who lived 
near Niagara Falls, through whom he soon received information about the 
daughter and her rescue -vas accomplished. This brother whose name was 
Jacob Focht made a journey into Canada for said purpose, and on this trip 
he became acquainted with German people, who loved the truth, who, al- 
though being entirely German, sought edification among the English 
Methodists. Through Bro. Focht they learned that there were German 
itinerant preachers on the other side of the Niagara River, and that there 
was some hope that they might get over into Canada. They expressed 
their strong desire that he would direct them into Canada, so that they 
might hear the Gospel preached with power in their own language, Bro. 
Focht informed our preachers of this intense desire of those Germans in 
Chippawa; soon afterward Bro. John G. Zinser visited them and preached | 
in the houses of two natural brothers, Martin and Christian Schaub, which 
was the first visit of one of our itinerant ministers into Canada.*  After- 
ward the brethren Charles Hammer and Joseph Harlacher also visited that 
country. 

“ About the same time entrance was obtained in Waterloo, about 100 
miles north-west of Chippawa. Several people moved from Waterloo 
County into the State of Ohio. They were Mennonites, who had warm 
hearts for righteousness. There they visited a camp-meeting, where they 
were received in a most friendly manner by our people. The plain and 
humble appearance and conduct of our ministers, and their powerful and 
unctuous preaching made a deep impression upon these sincere and truth- 
loving people, and soon they wrote letters to their friends in Waterloo that 
they had found true Christians in the ‘States’ who serve God in the Spirit 
and truth in the German language. This information awaked a real desire 
also to become acquainted with our preachers, and as they learned that we 
publish a German religious paper, they subscribed for it and made known 
their desires through it. <A few of the families mentioned, removed back 
again to Waterloo, and prayed earnestly that we might make a beginning 
there. 

“The year 1837 was the year of the actual beginning of our work in 
Canada, After Bro. Zinser had made his first visit to Chippawa in the 
earlier part of the year, and Hammer and Harlacher had followed him, the 
brethren Hammer, Harlacher and Dellinger made successive visits to Wa- 
terloo during the winter, and at both places their preaching resulted in a 
mighty awakening. Sinners were aroused and converted and the petitions 
became so numerous and strong, that the Eastern Conference, at its session 
at Orwigsburg, March 28th, 1838, was distressed for want of a plan how to 
comply with this urgent call. And as at the same time petitions and invi- 
tations from German settlements along the Mohawk River in the State of 
New York, were presented, the Conference organized a Missionary Society, 


*) Excepting the visit of Bro. John Dreisbach in 1816. 


1838. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIA TION. 411 


which was the first one in our Church, under the name: ‘The German 
Evangelical Missionary Society of North America.’ The second article of 
its constitution read as foilows: ‘The object of this society shall be to 
make arrangements and provide means, to extend and promote the King- 
dom of God by means of missionaries.’ Then auxiliaries were organized 
at different places during the conference year, and until the next Confer- 
ence session held at Lebanon, Pa., in 1839, already five hundred dollars had 
been collected. The Waterloo mission in Upper Canada was thereupon 
regularly established and a preacher stationed there. Henceforth the work 
progressed in a remarkable and cheering manner. 

“Tn the year 1838 a young brother, Michael His, also made a good be- 
ginning in the Niagara district and Lincoln County. His preaching places 
were in Chippawa, Sodom, Stonycreek, Rainham, etc. He labored accord- 
ing to his judgment in the name of the Lord for the salvation of the 
Germans in Canada and the honor of the Evangelical Association. He 
was, however, somewhat infirm physically, but God blessed his labors, and 
good work was commenced at said places.” 


§ 4. The First Camp-meeting in Canada, ete. 


“On Waterloo mission a work was done already in 1838 such as was 
never accomplished anywhere else among us. In August a camp-meeting 
was held before we had a single regularly received member there! The 
missionary wrote to Bishop Seybert that he should come to their help at 
this meeting, and he well knew that help was very much needed. He has- 
tened thither, riding on horseback a distance of 390 miles in the hottest of 
the season, to assist in this work. He was taken sick at Buffalo, but he 
pressed on the next day some 50 miles, and finally arrived with two 
brethren in good time. There stood 15 tents on the farm of David Erb, a 
few miles north of Berlin, before we had received a single member in 
Canada. 

“The Lord revealed himself here on the first evening so powerfully 
through his word, that hard hearts were melted and tears of repentance 
began to flow. The meeting improved daily and various kinds of people 
were awakened and happily converted to God. Even if one wanted to go 
to sleep the prayers and groans of penitents would disturb the sleeper, for 
they lay upon their knees in the tents, wrestling with God for salvation 
through Christ. 

“When the Lord’s Supper was administered on Monday, there appeared 
newly converted Catholics, Lutherans, Reformed, and others with tearful 
eyes at the table of the Lord. On Wednesday morning the 29th of August, 
1839, at the close of the meeting the first of our congregations in Upper 
Canada was organized, which was joined by 26 persons who were divided 
into two classes ; one in Berlin, the other in the surrounding neighborhood. 


Great care was taken in thus founding the work in Canada; our General 
27 


412 HISTORY OF THE [1839. 


Rules were read to the people and they were requested to forsake all sin 
forever, deny themselves, eschew fashionable dress, the pride of life, and 
luxurious living, honor God alone and cleave to him with all their hearts. 
A leader for each class was then selected, and thus was laid on that morn- 
ing the regular foundation of the work in Canada, 

“The Lord in his providence ordered it so that we obtained two distin- 
guished and influential men in our favor in the beginning Oneof them was 
Bro. Sauer, a Methodist preacher, who supported our mission liberally and 
remembered the cause of missions in his last will and testament with a 
good bequest ; he attended this camp-meeting and said that our doctrine 
pleased him well and that this work was like unto Old Methodism ; the 
other was H. W. Peterson, the son of a Lutheran minister, who was then 
editor of a newspaper in Berlin, and who favored our work and defended it 
against unfriendly attacks. This man also succeeded in obtaining for us 
the recognition of the government, whereby the Evangelical people were 
then secured and protected in all respects. Now the ‘ice was broken’ and 
the work of God prospered in our hands in a signal manner.” 

In September, 1839, Bishop Seybert also visited the places where Bro. 
Kis had labored and found many awakened and penitent people at Rain- 
ham and Stonycreek, who were soon after gloriously converted to God and 
joined the Association. About 60 miles from Stonycreek, Bro. Eis had 
also found a large open door where we soon established a society. 

“In the Spring of 1840 the East Pa.Conference sent the brethren Michael 
Kis and Michael Sindlinger as missionaries to Black Creek mission and 
Bro. Joseph Harlacher to Waterloo. The year before Bro. Chnstian Holl 
had labored on the Waterloo mission, and Bro. His alone on Black Creek, 
which was already in 1840 changed into a circuit, and a camp-meeting was 
held in the neighborhood of Sodom. In 1841 Bro. Harlacher again remained 
on Waterloo, which was changed into a two-handed circuit and Bro. Jacob 
Dereich was given him as a colleague. Awakenings took place here and 
there among the Germans in Canada and the work spread rapidly in many 
directions. In the town of Berlin we built a church already in 1841, which 
was dedicated on the 26th of December to the service of the true God, and 
about this time another house for worship was built in the Gore district, 
which gave an opportunity for an extensive revival during which many 
people were converted. 

‘‘ Within three years from the beginning a great number of people had 
been converted—-Yes, converted to God into eternal life—and we had ob- 
tained a strong foothold in the British territory. 

“Already in the year 1847 a presiding elder district was formed in 
Canada and soon the ‘ Mennonite conversion’ took place 20 miles north of 
the Niagara, when even one of their Bishops was drawn by the Heavenly 
Magnet of love who then ‘learned the way more fully’ and was converted 
into the divine life, on account of which he and his converted brethren 


1839.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 413 


were rejected and cast out by the Mennonite High Council—which, 
however, caused an earthquake among them and resulted in a serious 
division.”* 

§ 5. A Remarkable Letter. 

In the year 1838 a certain gentleman, already mentioned, Mr. H. W. 
Peterson wrote a letter to the editor of the Christliche Botschafter, William 
W. Orwig, which appeared in the September number of that periodical. 
This Peterson was the son of an aged Lutheran minister, and also the edi- 
tor of a German newspaper, issued in the town of Berlin. In this letter 
he portrayed the condition of the Germans in the following manner : 


‘“ PRESENT STATE OF CHRISTIANITY AMONG THE GERMANS OF UPPER 
CANADA. 
Dear Brother in the Lord :— 


I would like to call, if possible, the attention of your brethren in the 
ministry, and of your principal conference especially, to the present de- 
plorable condition of many of my fellow-citizens here. In Waterloo town- 
ship, where most of the Germans of Upper Canada live, and among whom 
there are so-called Catholics, Lutherans, Reformed, Mennonites, Dunkers, 
and United Brethren ; the Mennonites and Dunkers are the only ones hav- 
ing their regular teachers, and consequently regular divine service. I also 
rejoice exceedingly, that these my brethren are provided with well-disposed 
pastors; but, at the same time, I regret very much, that others, who are 
also anxiously concerned for the salvation of their souls, but are excluded 
from the privileges of the Mennonite and Dunker societies, are entirely 
destitute of the services of a regular preacher. It is true, there is a man 
here, named Bindeman, who pretends to be an ‘Evangelical’ minister, 
holding general meetings every three or four weeks ; but I regret from the 
bottom of my heart, that we cannot repose that confidence in this teacher 
of morality, nor unite with him in intimate Christian brotherly love, as we 
should like and ought to do, as genuine Christians; the condition, there- 
ore, of the United Brethren, Lutherans, Reformed, Methodists, and such 
as have not joined any church or sect, call for sympathy and even com- 
miseration by every child of God. Many of us are almost like straying 
sheep, whose pastor is absent. 

‘‘Compared with us, the United States are far better supplied with min- 
isters of every denomination. How isthis? Even the ‘ Evangelical Asso- 
ciation,’ whose ministers seem not to labor either for money or fame, has 
forsaken or at least forgotten or neglected us. 

“Dear Bro. Orwig: I greatly mistake the principles of your Church 
or rather of your brethren in the ministry, if their main object is money or 
fame; for the three or four preachers, whom your ‘ Association’ formerly 
sent us, out of Christian love, manifested both humility and self-denial ; 


*) Report of Bishop Seybert. 


414 HISTORY OF THE [1839. 


and I believe, that their labors here were not in vain. Bro. Jacob Riegel, 
especially, was well-received by all among whom he labored. By dint of 
indefatigable labor, self-denial, persevering, enlightened zeal for the glory 
of God and the welfare of immortal souls, he, or one like him, might ac- 
complish a vast amount of good among us. And as far as my information 
goes, some one of the dear brethren that have visited us, could make him- 
self as useful in our midst, as our dear Bro. Riegel. But alas! we are 
poor. We fear, we are not able to give him a sufficient support. But, 
dear brother! shall we, because we are too poor to give a teacher a suffici- 
ent support, shall we on that account be deprived of his services, and suffer 
and starve? Will ye Pennsylvanians not have pity upon us? Will you, 
who have plenty and to spare, will you let us suffer in the wilderness, with- 
out any pity ? or will you pray for us, and if possible, send us a spiritual 
guide? Could you not contribute something toward his support the first 
year ? or could he not visit us three or four times during the year? But 
it would be better if he could live among us.—Much money we cannot give 
him ; but we will do what we can. 

‘Under the wise guidance of a truly Christian pastor,who would adorn 
his doctrine by a pious life, there could, with the help of God, soon a con- 
siderable society be gathered in our midst. Perhaps you can spare us the 
dear Bro. Riegel, provided he is willing to come. He would be the very 
man for us, because he can preach in English and German, and is, as far as 
I know, without a family yet. But whoever he may be, that comes to us 
as a laborer in the vineyard of Christ, in order to do good in the name of 
God, he must have proper certificates as to character, usefulness, ete. ; 
otherwise I fear very much, that he could not accomplish much for a long 
time. And why? Whoever comes, will find that out soon enough. 

‘‘The visits of pious German preachers, no matter whether Methodists, 
Evangelical, or United Brethren, would be exceedingly welcome to every 
individual that is concerned for the salvation of his soul; the number of 
these, however, seems to be but small, and is, alas! daily decreasing. 
Come, therefore, over, to help us. That our kind and merciful Father in 
heaven may soon send us a genuine minister of his word, is the heart-felt 
prayer of a | Poor SINNER. 

Waterloo Township, U. C., July 15th, 1838.” 


§ 6. Reports of the Brethren John G. Zinser and Charles Hammer. 


As the reader has already learned from the report by Bishop Seybert 
that the brethren Zinser and Hammer upon the information brought by 
Bro, Focht, visited Canada several times, it will be in place here to insert 
the reports of their visits, although this will take us several years back 
again : 

Bro. John G. Zinser wrote on the 28th of June, as follows :— 

“ During this Summer I visited Canada, where I remained nine days; 


1839.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 415 


I preached five times at several places, and on each occasion had very 
attentive hearers who were nearly all Germans—for there are many German 
people in this section. These people are very poorly provided with Gospel 
privileges. The Mennonite congregations are the most numerous among 
the professors of Christianity. But there are many people who make no 
profession and live outside the Churches mostly in a plain manner. It is 
very desirable that faithful preachers be sent to them ; I believe the Lord 
would gather himself a people there. We ought to pray the Lord of the 
harvest to send forth laborers. 


“Tcould not but look upon the condition of the people with sorrow and 
pity ; they are like sheep without a shepherd. There seem to be peopie 
there, however, who are engaged in their minds with the question, how to 
be saved, and their solution seems to be that they must live outwardly in 
a plain, common way, but of the life of God in the soul they know nothing. 
At the same time not a few are instructed by their wretched, unspiritual 
pastors to deny true godliness altogether. The detrimental doctrine which 
is a support of the devil’s kingdom: ‘That we must remain poor sinners all 
our lifetime and can never become free,’ is here also, as in other parts of the 
world, generally prevailing.” 


Bro. Charles Hammer wrote under date January 27th, 1837, about his 
two visits to Canada, as follows :— 


‘“‘Since our Annual Conference I journeyed twice into Upper Canada, 
where I found many Germans who are very desirous to hear the word of 
God in their mother tongue. My first trip thither I made last October, and 
stayed there for ten days and preached nine times to very attentive hearers. 
The second trip I made in the beginning of this month, and traveled about 
100 miles northward, where I met with many American and European 
Germans, who seemed to me like sheep without a shepherd.. The preaching 
in the German language seemed altogether a new thing to these people. I 
cannot remember ever to have met with people who evinced such hungering 
for the word of God, as I found there. Though I had but little time at 
command I preached eight times before I left these parts—each day twice— 
and I have reason to believe, that it was not in vain. Some hearts were 
so deeply touched by the word that tears flowed freely. How cheering to 
a servant of the Lord when he sees that there is a sincere desire among the 
people to hear the truth ; to such he can preach with freedom and pleasure. 
I had very solicitous feelings while reflecting upon the forlorn condition of 
the people as I was leaving them, because they have no faithful guides to 
show unto them the way to heaven. I could not help thinking if they had 
the opportunity to hear the Gospel preached with power as many have it 
in the United States, very many would obediently bow under the sceptre 
of Immanuel. O that believers might pray the Lord to send forth laborers 
into his harvest for it is truly great and the faithful laborers are few.” 


416 HISTORY OF THE [1839. 


§ 7. The First Reports of Our Regular Missionary in Canada. 


It has already been stated elsewhere that the Eastern Conference, 
which went into session on the 11th of April, 1839, took hold systematically 
of the mission work in Canada. Two missions were established, namely, 
at Waterloo and Black Creek. Bro. Christian Holl was sent to the first 
and Bro. Michael His to the second. Bro. Holl’s first report of Waterloo 
Mission was as follows: 


“Tn the name of Christ I take up my pen, in order to report the state 
of this mission. On the 9th of May we arrived, by the help of God, safely 
at Berlin. We found the friends well in body, spiritually it was as might 
be expected, they having had no preacher, no regular nor proper use of the 
means of grace. Some were also disappointed in their expectation with: 
regard to the preacher, yet I was received in a very friendly manner. I 
found a neglected, uncultivated vineyard with no fence around it, and also 
realized the truth of the proverb that ‘all beginnings are difficult.’ I had 
also to hear some discouraging expressions; for some were faint-hearted 
and believed that very little could be accomplished here—all this was poor 
encouragement. Yet my faith failed me not, because I placed my confidence 
in God who has said: ‘Fear thou not, for I am with thee, be not dismayed 
for [am thy God, I will help thee, yea I will uphold thee with the right 
hand of my righteousness.’ After I had been here several weeks I no- 
ticed that darkness and unbelief began to yield; the friends took courage 
to move onward and our meetings waxed better, our prayer and class-meet- 
ings were blessed with awakenings and conversions, the friends were greatly 
cheered and resolved to fight the good fight of faith and zealously serve 
the Lord, To the glory of God I can say that things have changed for the 
better. 


“Some time ago four families and myself agreed to go to a camp-meet- 
ing on Buffalo circuit, in the State of New York, although it was 115 miles 
away; we rejoiced in anticipation of the meeting ; but shortly before the 
time arrived we received information that no camp-meeting would be 
held there; the reason of which I cannot tell. This was to us very un- 
pleasant news, but it led to a proposition to hold a camp-meeting in this 
part of the country. This found much favor among the friends, and it was 
resolved that a camp-meeting should be held on the land of David Erb 
two miles north of the village of Waterloo, commencing on the 23rd of 
August. At this time I know of 15 tents to be erected, but we expect a 
few more. 

“We have already opened a German Sunday-schoolhere with 41 scholars, 
the number increasing with every session. At a class-meeting held recently 
I solicited support for this school of the friends present, who contributed 
$34,—-some of the friends were not present, but they will also give their 
mite. 


1839.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 417 


“The friends sent greeting to Bro. Seybert, and desire very much that 
he might attend this camp-meeting if possible. It would be a great joy to 
see him on our camp-ground. 

“A hearty greeting by me to our Missionary Society and its branches, 
and all the other friends. I desire earnestly that they remember us in their 
prayers. CHRISTIAN HOLL. 

Berlin, Upper Canada, June 24th, 1839,” 

Extract from the second report of Bro. Holl, concerning that mis- 
sion :— 

“On August 20th we were greatly rejoiced by the arrival of the 
Brethren John Sindlinger and Michael His in our midst. Though much 
fatigued by their long journey, yet Bro. Sindlinger preached for us at Ber- 
lin that very evening, from Rom. 8, 1. The sermon was plain and pointed, 
and to judge from its effects, must have been taken to heart, for tears both 
of sorrow and joy flowed freely. Late in the evening of the 21st, our joy 
was still increased by the arrival of our dear Bro. Seybert, accompanied by 
the ministers of Buftalo circuit in New York, and some friends from Wil- 
liamsville. The courage and faith of our friends waxed strong. On the 
23rd our camp-meeting began. The opening sermon was delivered by Bro. 
Seybert, from Rev. 2, 4-7; heaven seemed to open, and showers of bless- 
ings descended upon us. On Saturday the meeting increased in feeling 
and interest. Toward evening some rain fell. On Sunday morning crowds 
of people came from every direction, and the conduct of all present was 
admirable—all were filled with wonder and astonishment. In the evening 
awakenings and conversions broke out, and shouts of praise and thanks- 
giving ascended to heaven, because the Lord is merciful and his goodness 
endureth forever. During that night and the following day, powerful 
storms, interspersed with heavy peals of thunder, accompanied by copious 
showers, passed by in quick succession. On Monday showers of blessings 
came down upon the assembly, and sinners were converted toGod. Inthe 
evening the meeting became uncommonly interesting ; the cries of sinners 
for mercy, and the shouts of praise and thanksgiving of the children of 
God resounded from the camp-ground. I myself felt like singing with the 
poet :— 

‘O! dasz ich tausend Zungen hiditte 
Und einen tausendfachen Mund, 
So stimmt’ ich damit um die Wette, 
Vom allertiefsten Herzensgrund, 
Kin Loblied nach dem andern an 
Vom Dem, was Cott an mir gethan.’ 
On Tuesday we celebrated the Lord’s Supper, and 54 communicants par- 
took of the sacred emblems. In the evening we had another blessed 
waiting upon the Lord. Our parting on Wednesday morning was uncom- 
monly touching and affecting ; God’s presence was so powerfully manifested, 


418 HISTORY OF THE [1839. 


that his children praised him and shouted for joy. Before the meeting was 
closed, an invitation was given to join the Church, whereupon 26 persons 
had their names recorded ; thus the foundation of our society here was 
laid. Since that time some more have joined us. The prospects to gather 
a people here to the Lord among the Germans are very good.” 

The first report from the Black Creek mission in Upper Canada, is as 
follows :—— 

“ Dear Brethren in Christ : 

“T feel it my duty to send you a report of this my distant mission 
field. I can say to the praise of the Lord, that he takes the lead and pre- 
pares the way for me. Last year when I arrived in this wilderness and 
commenced to preach, weak in body and in spirit as 1 was, I found open 
doors and was kindly received by some children of God. But the religious 
condition of these people in general is indeed wretched. Their religion 
mostly consists in the observance of some rites and a plain dress. Yet I 
can say, that a great change has already taken place, and many begin to 
inquire what they must do to be saved ; and already some profess to have 
found peace with God. My meetings are generally well attended, and light 
from on high begins to penetrate the dark places. Though the prince of 
darkness is enraged and sets opposition and persecution on foot, yet 
there is every reason to believe that the Lord will gather himself a 
people here. 

‘‘In the beginning of June I traveled about 60 miles upward along the 
shores of Lake Erie, and found a large settlement of Germans. I offered 
to preach for them, and permission was readily granted. I then preached 
on Sunday to a large congregation, and God was pleased to own and bless 
his word. These people, that have for years gone astray like sheep in the 
wilderness, manifested a great longing after the word of God. They wept 
for joy that they were privileged once more to hear the pure Gospel 
preached in their vernacular tongue. At the close of the meeting, some 
men came forward with tears in their eyes, entreating me to preach once 
more for them ; they confessed that they must change their lives, or else 
they could not go to heaven. I made some private calls, and found the 
people greatly interested in their souls’ salvation. My heart was filled 
with joy and gratitude to God for the missionary arrangements of the 
Evangelical Association, whereby it has become possible to preach the 
Gospel of Christ to these far-distant perishing souls. Brethren in Christ, 
let us work while it is day, for the night cometh when no one can work. 
All our labors, our property, yea our lives ought to be consecrated to the 
Lord ; and the main object of our labors ought to be, to save souls and 
thus help in building the house of the Lord. Dear brethren, remember in 
your prayers your brethren who labor in the distance, that the Lord may 
protect and assist them, in order that His kingdom may be extended through 
their instrumentality and many souls be saved. Pray that the word of the 


1839. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIA TION. 419 


Lord may have free course and be glorified everywhere. Lord, grant each 
and everyone of us grace! Amen. MIcHAEL Eis. 
June— 1839.” 


This mission prospered exceedingly the very first year, and at its close 
numbered 84 members ; for this reason it was changed into a regular circuit 
the second year, and received two preachers. 


§ 8. Report of the First Camp-meeting in the * Canada Museum.” 


Soon after the above described camp-meeting, an article from the pen 
of the editor of the “Canada Museum,” the aforementioned Mr. H. W. 
Peterson, appeared in said paper, which represents the views and impressions 
of an intelligent outsider, concerning that meeting : 


“THe GERMAN CAMP-MEETING 


which commenced yesterday a week ago in this vicinity was continued 
until last Wednesday morning, and as we are told, several important con- 
versions have taken place. We also had the pleasure to attend on Sunday 
and remained there until 10 o’clock in the evening, during which time 
several sermons were preached to an audience of about 800 people, mostly 
Germans, among whom were Roman Catholics, Lutherans, Reformed, 
Baptists, Mennonites, Dunkers, Methodists, United Brethren in Christ, 
Hvangelicals and others who all—all—of them, as far as we could observe, 
were attentive and conducted themselves very properly. We walked al- 
most unknown—more than a quarter of a mile away in a circle around the 
camp, in order to see what might be going on, with the intention of pre- 
venting possible disturbances, if need be, but we nowhere noticed the 
least impropriety—everyone conducted himself as it was to be expected 
from well trained Germans, which will secure respect for them in any part 
of the world, and redounds to their special honor. 

“We had the rare enjoyment at this meeting to hear the sermons of the 
preachers, John Seybert and John M. Sindlinger. The first one was under 
God’s grace the instrument of the conversion of the latter. When we ar- 
rived on the ground, John Seybert had already read his text and delivered a 
great part of his powerful sermon, but we heard enough to convince us that 
he is actuated by the right spirit and preaches divine truth clearly and in 
purity. John M. Sindlinger preached on Matthew 13, 36-43 very power- - 
fully and impressively. 

‘“ We never heard preaching that was more unctuous and penetrating, 
clothed in the plainest language, so that any German, whether born in 
Europe or America, could thoroughly understand and lay to heart every 
word of it. The preachers are humble in their dress and conduct, and as 
faithful sowers of the Word, they have, with divine help, already scattered 
much good seed, both in the United States and Canada. Rev. Seybert— 
as Bishop and overseer of all congregations belonging to this Christian de- 


420 HISTORY. OF (Ti E [1840. 


nomination in the United States—has during several years traveled more 
than 50,000 miles, in promoting true Christianity. May this apostolic and 
diligent laborer in the vineyard of the Lord, and his co-laborers, accom- 
plish much good in the name of Christ, and be received joyfully every- 
where. They deserve in a special degree the good-will and love of the 
Germans in Upper Canada, because they came a great distance over valley 
and mountain with no other object than to preach the glad tidings of 
salvation to their numerous German Brethren in this country, in such a 
manner that every one who is willing to listen can understand it. May the 
Lord bless his messengers ! 

“ Following are the names of the preachers who were present at this 
campmeeting: Christian Holl (of Berlin), John Seybert, John M. 
Sindlinger, George Ramige, Philip Schwilly and Michael Kis—six—and all » 
are Europeans except Bro. Seybert, who is an American. And all of them 
are God-fearing and deeply pious men. 

“Tt has been reported that 26 persons were received as members of the 
Evangelical Association at this meeting.” 


§ 9. Missionary Labors of Bro. Joseph Harlacher. 


Bro. Harlacher succeeded Bro. Holl as missionary in Waterloo and 
Berlin. He commenced his labors on the first Sunday in May, 1840, by 
preaching in Berlin on Ezekiel 33, 7. 8. 9., and it was a blessed meeting. 
In the evening he preached in the house of John Hoffman ; the Lord was 
graciously near and the Word made a deep impression. On the following 
Tuesday evening he again preached in Berlin on 2 Cor. 12, 14. 

The friends had been without preaching for some time, so that they 
were hungering for Gospel food, and the meeting was a blessed one. At 
the close the missionary and the friends joined in a covenant of prayer; to 
pray twice a day in secret for a revival of the work in Berlin and on the 
entire mission. Nearly all the members entered into the covenant. A re- 
markable work of conversion followed as a clear answer to these united 
prayers. Bro. Harlacher was not satisfied with his two appointments, 
hence he started on the 9th of May to find new places. He found a log 
cabin, 20 miles west of Berlin and about 4 miles from Hamburg, which had 
been built by Lutherans as a church, but as they had no pastor, it was not 
in use. He obtained permission to preach in it, and on the 10th of May 
he preached there on Ezekiel 33. 7. 8.9., and afterwards continued to 
preach there regularly until some of the old members rebelled against it 
and the officers resolved to close the door, only Father Muerner voted 
against their resolution. But Satan came too late this time, for the seed of 
the Word had already taken root in some hearts. Private houses were 
then opened, among them were Muerner’s, Linglebach’s and Geo. 
Kleinknecht’s. Later on the work spread much farther in this section and 
one of the chief societies in the Canada Conference was gathered here. 


1840. | EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 421 


§ 10. Further Labors and Successes. 


A few years previous a family by the name of Johns living in New 
York State was converted to God, and one of the daughters, named 
Charlotte, went to Canada and married a young man named Bieber. She 
was one of Harlacher’s spiritual children. When the missionary came to 
Berlin he made inquiry concerning the place where she had gone, it was 
in the township of Puslinch, where shortly before there was nothing but a 
thick pine forest. Soon after his arrival he started off to find this lost 
child, and late in the afternoon of the day he arrived in the settlement 
where stood a few log cabins in the small clearing. He inquired for the 
Bieber family and found their father’s house. He told the father that he 
was an Evangelical missionary and asked for lodging over night which was 
readily granted. Soon Charlotte appeared with a child upon her arm, and 
her astonishment and joy was very great. She said she had prayed, wept, 
waited and looked for a long time to see once more the preacher who 
had led her to Christ—and then she was willing to die! Her longing for 
the Word of Life was very intense, and she soon asked whether he would 
preach there that evening, but he thought it was almost too late because 
no appointment had been made. “Oh,” said she, ‘‘I will make it known.” 
Father Bieber also gave his consent. Charlotte then hastened off with her 
babe upon her arm to carry the good news to their neighbors in the forest, 
that the preacher had arrived and would preach in the evening. She also 
started out several neighbors’ boys on this errand, who ran through the 
whole neighborhood and called the people together. Quite a number as- 
sembled, to whom the missionary preached on Luke 19, 20. The Lord 
blessed the word, and many were deeply touched, so that tears flowed 
freely. Charlotte’s cup of joy was full and running over. This then 
became a regular preaching place. An unconverted parson who frequently 
became intoxicated and enjoyed dances, had to leave those parts. 

In New Hope (now Hespeler), Bro. Harlacher also commenced to 
preach, and several persons were converted to God. Later on the work was 
extended considerably. In Preston he made an appointment for preaching 
on the street, whereby a great concourse of people were brought together, 
and many hearts were touched by the word. In Blenheim Township he 
preached in Block’s school-house, in the house of Mr. Guggisberger, and 
where the village of Strassburg now stands, in the house of Mr. Geyer, in 
Wilmot Township in the house of Mr. Wing, grandfather of Rev. M. L. 
Wing, at present presiding elder in the Canada Conference, but persecution 
became so fierce that he could preach there only once. Then a neighbor, 
Mr. Dewitt, opened his house, but with the same result ; then a blacksmith 
named Feick permitted him to preach in his house. When Harlacher 
came there again after some time, Mr. Feick met him at the gate and said: 
“Yes, Harlacher, I cannot allow you to preach any more in my house.” 


429, HISTORY OF THE (1840, 


Upon being asked for the reason, Feick replied: “ Why, my customers 
threaten to leave me.” Harlacher looked steadily into his eyes and 
said: “You know that you are a sinner and a wicked man, and yet God 
has given you bread and kept you and your family ; now, don’t you think 
He will also give you bread when you are converted to Him?” Where- 
upon Feick grasped the bridle and said: “Comein!” He and his family 
were happily converted to God, and had most blessed meetings in their 
house ; but alas, after he had served the Lord for a while, his old inebriate 
comrades seduced him again into his former besetting sin—drunkeness. 
Yet, when they attempted to persecute the missionary, he would stand up 
for him and even make an emphatic use of his fists in his defense. Also 
west of Huron Harlacher found openings, being permitted to preach in a 
school-house several miles away from the place where the city of Stratford 
is now situated, where at that time stood only a few log cabins. He 
lodged with a man named Kastner. The oldest son was the proprietor of 
the homestead and his parents lived with him. Sometime after, this son 
said to his mother: ‘“ When that preacher comes again, send him away 
and tell him I wont receive him.” Ona Saturday Harlacher came there in 
the midst of a snow-storm. Then the aged mother stepped out and told 
him this, whereupon he turned his horse away without saying a word and 
went to aman named Sebring. After mother Kastner had thus sent the 
missionary away, the youngest daughter said to her: “O mother, why 
have you done this? You have turned away this man who has done us 
no harm and has prayed so beautifully for us!” Quite nonplussed she 
finally replied: “ Why, Peter told me to send him away.” This daughter 
was afterward converted and became a member of the Church ; when later 
on a revival took place there, several members of the Sebring family were 
also converted to God. Afterward a part of the Sebring farm was allotted 
and a village arose bearing the name of Sebringville, where we now have 
a flourishing congregation and a fine church edifice. 

Bro, Harlacher also commenced to preach in Woolwich Township in 
_ the houses of J. Yost and J. Baumann in the so-called “ King’s forest,” 
a large unsurveyed forest belonging to the crown of England; but the people 
invaded it, each selected for himself a place, staked off as much land as 
he wanted, erected a log cabin upon it and began making improvements. 
These settlers agreed among themselves that when in the government 
survey of the land a man’s clearing should be divided, his neighbor 
should pay him for what he gets of it. Many people in this wilderness 
had not even a wagon track to their cabins, only footpaths from one to the 
other, indicated by marks on the trees. 

A man named Stricker, known to the missionary, lived in this forest 
and he set out to find him and preached there; at the close of the sermon 
all the people present lay on their knees and cried to God. A main road 
was open through this forest from which all the footpaths led to the cabins 


1840.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 493 


of the settlers. This road went through the place where the village of 
Heidelberg now stands. Near by stood at that time a big sugar-maple, to 
which Bro. Harlacher attached a piece of paper containing the notice that he 
would preach on a specified Sunday morning under that tree. When he 
came at the appointed time he found a large concourse of people assembled 
to whom he preached on John 1, 29. 

He now preached two or three times on Sunday and once on each 
week day excepting Saturday. On his journey from his appointment 
on the “Lower” road to the one on the Huron road, he had to pass 
through the village of New Hamburg, where William Schmidt and Solomon 
Weber lived, both of whom had attended the meetings at Mr. Feick’s, and felt 
an intense longing after truth. Through the wickedness of the state 
church clergy in Europe, William Schmidt had become tainted with infi- 
delity, but now the Gospel truth began to make an impression, and he 
walked many miles to these meetings. When Harlacher travéled through 
Hamburg, he felt a strong desire to raise the Gospel banner there also, 
and finally found entrance with a man named Zinkan, but this man 
was so fiercely persecuted that he closed the door again. Now a certain 
Mr, Brill opened his house, but on account of persecution he also recalled 
the appointment, Then Solomon Weber took courage and opened his 
house, but fared no better than the others. When Harlacher came to fill 
his appointment Weber said: “I cannot let you preach here; Mr. Scott, 
who owns the house, will drive me out if I permit it, but,” pointing to a 
loghouse across Smith’s Creek, “in that house lives George Eby, who says, 
if you don’t consider him too much of a castaway, you might preach 
there.” The missionary went over to Eby who received him gladly. He 
was a Mennonite but had fallen into sin, and had also suffered temporal 
reverses. Qn the 21st of September, 1840, Harlacher preached for the 
first time at Eby’s. The persecutors let him alone—they considered him 
too low and said there was nothing left of him to be spoiled. Meanwhile 
Bishop Seybert arrived on the mission and preached with great liberty and 
power at Eby’s on the 29th of November, to a crowded house ; many were 
deeply touched, and ofter the sermon Bro. Harlacher told the people, if any 
one wanted to come to Christ, they would pray with him, when immediate- 
ly a tall man, who stood at the door, said: “ Well, Harlacher, pray for 
me!” and fell on his knees, Several others followed his example and 
also fell on their knees. After a while the tall man exclaimed: “ Harlacher, 
pray also for my wife.” This produced quite a commotion among those 
present. This meeting was really the beginning of the work at Ham- 
burg. 

On the 15th of December, 1840, Harlacher wrote in his diary: “This 
morning I started before daylight from North Easthope in a snow-storm, 
and struggled six miles through a forest over a bad road, and preached to 
a few families who live in great poverty in this wilderness. I had great 


424 HISTORY OF THE (1841. 


freedom in preaching to these simple people. In the evening I preached 
at Hamburg, on Luke 10, 42. Many persons were quite attentive and the 
Lord blessed his Word.” Also in Moyer’s school-house, a few miles north 
of Hespeler, he preached with good effect, and in Waterloo, where the work 
became quite strong. 

In Puslinch, now Morriston, the Lord’s Supper was administered on 
the Ist of January, 1841, during a great meeting, held in the house of Father 
Kalfas, where the presiding elder, John M. Sindlinger, assisted Harlacher. 
There were a number of seekers of salvation there, and the operations of 
divine power were indescribable. At this meeting 45 persons joined the 
Church, and a class was formed, from which in later years Jacob Kaechele 
and John ©. Morlock went forth into the ministry. 

On the first Sunday in 1841, a quarterly meeting was held in Berlin 
and John M. Sindlinger, presiding elder, was present. The school-house 
had been locked, then John Hoffman opened his carpenter shop for the 
meeting, and although the room was too small, the Lord revealed His power 
in a remarkable manner. The pressure was so great that the seekers 
could not find room enough to kneel. Several young men had secured a 
place on the carpenter’s work-bench and were so wrought upon by the Spirit 
of God that they fell upon their knees on that bench and began to pray. 
Solomon Weber and William Schmidt were among the seekers of salvation 
and the latter found the peace of God at that time. 

In the Spring of 1841 the conference changed this mission into a 
double-handed circuit, and returned Joseph Harlacher with Jacob Dereich, 
a young beginner, but pious and useful as his colleague. 


§11. A Remarkable Meeting. 


As Bro. Harlacher journeyed to Hamburg and Wilmot to his appoint- 
ments, he had to pass through a village called Petersburg. Besides a 
tavern and a store it contained only a few houses. The tavern was the 
rendezvous for drunkards, gamblers and rowdies generally, especially on 
Sunday. Whenever Harlacher passed through there he was mocked in 
various ways ; he often felt a strong desire to preach there, but there was 
no school-house in the village nor any other opportunity. He felt stirred 
in spirit like the apostle Paul at Athens, and said to himself: ‘Shall 
Satan have unhindered sway in the hearts of these people? Is Jesus 
and His word of salvation to be entirely shut out from this place? Did 
not Christ die for these people also? Can I not find a way to preach to 
them?” Finally he made the attempt to preach in the open air. Without 
counseling with any man, he announced an appointment in the name of the 
Lord. At a bushmeeting near Hamburg he announced that he would 
preach in Petersburg on the 21st of August in the street in front 
of J. Ernst’s tavern. This news spread like wild-fire. When on the 
appointed Sunday morning he arrived, he found a crowd of people 


1841. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION, 425 


assembled, and many more still coming. Some had even come 20 miles, of 
course, induced by different motives. When Harlacher arrived in front of 
the tavern, he looked about for a suitable place to preach from, and then 
took his stand on a wagon, which belonged to a brother from Hamburg. 
Bro. Solomon Weber held an umbrella over him, to protect him from the 
heat of the sun. An elderly, robust man now came near the wagon. This 
was Father Staebler. The preacher reached out bis hand and invited him 
to come up on the wagon and sit by him, which he did. After having 
opened the meeting by singing and prayer the preacher announced his text, 
Acts 13, 41: “Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish ; for I work 
a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a 
man declare it unto you.” Great solemnity rested upon the audience and 
close attention was given, with exception of a few rowdies, who had a 
bottle filled with strong drink which they passed around ; but they could 
not make much disturbance. Harlacher did not pay much attention to 
them but preached Christ crucified and called them to repentance, that 
their sins might be blotted out, and the Lord accompanied the word with 
great power. Those victims of the rum bottle also became quiet and gave 
attention. The tavern keeper, J. Ernst, was confounded and shut his bar, 
allowing no one to goin. The hearts of many were “ pricked” and many 
eyes became tearful. After the sermon Father Staebler said to the prea- 
cher: “If you want to preach here after this, then preach in my house,” 
which was only fifty rods away from the tavern. This offer was gladly ac- 
cepted, and the Gospel trumpet was blown soon afterward in Staebler’s house. 
Bro. Staebler had four sons and two daughters who were grown up and yet 
at home, but were soon converted to God. Later on two of the sons went 
forth into the ministry, one of whom has already entered into the joy of 
the Lord. Besides these several grandchildren are in the service of the 
Evangelical Association, in the Canada, New York and Iowa Conferences. 


§ 12. Our first Church Edifice in Canada, A Stroke of the Devil. 


Bro. Harlacher wrote with reference to his street-preaching in Peters- 
burg: “As I had put a hole through the devil’s drum, his music was 
spoiled!” Many persons were converted in the meetings in Staebler’s 
house, and the praises of God were sounded aloud. But Satan raged be- 
cause so many successful attacks had been made on his kingdom. The 
prince of darkness attempted through his vassals a veritable coup de etat 
upon the then leader of the work, Bro. Harlacher. 

In the year 1841, on the 25th of September, the first Church of the 
Evangelical Association in Berlin was dedicated. Christian Hummel of 
Buffalo Circuit, N. Y., officiated. On Sunday evening, 20 persons came to 
the altar of prayer, of whom many realized that their feet had been placed 
on the rock of salvation, and a new song was put into their mouths, to 
praise their God. This was an “old Evangelical” Church dedication ! 


426 HASTORY SOf fi fo (1841. 


This was also the first Evangelical Church edifice in Canada and became 
the birth-place of many souls, who pressed into the kingdom of God. But 
the enemies of the work of God were ata loss to know how to give vent 
to their anger on account of this. 7 


About one month after the above mentioned dedication several ser- 
vants of Satan conspired together, and on a Saturday evening erected a 
gibbet in a street in the center of the town; then they stuffed an old man’s 
dress with straw, to which they attached a paper with Bro. Harlacher’s 
name and several ugly epithets on it, and hung this effigy upon the gal- 
lows ? On Sunday morning people passed along this street and were 
astonished at this spectacle, until one of the brethren cut the rope and let 
the effigy drop on the ground. After a little while the boys set it on fire. 
On Monday Bro. Harlacher came into town and saw the gibbet still 
standing. Now the report was spread that Harlacher had hanged himself, 
and many people believed it. A young brother heard it already on Mon- 
day in Dundas, 30 miles away, where it was emphatically stated to be true. 
This brother, thinking the enemies had perhaps killed the missionary and 
then hanged him, went on foot to Berlin to ascertain the truth about it. 
How glad he was when he learned that his spiritual father was alive and 
full of joy ! 

But what had the devil gained by this outrage? It turned out to be 
a very effective defeat for his kingdom. Several of those rowdies, who 
had assisted in hanging Bro. Harlacher in effigy, were seized by remorse 
and converted to God, and at least two of them became preachers of the 
Gospel and led other souls to the Lord! 


From the foregoing examples we learn that the pioneer labors of Bro. 
Harlacher laid the foundation of the work in many places, These oner- 
ous preliminaries produced glorious results. Within the territories then 
worked up under great difficulties and hardships, the Canada Conference 
has now at least 12 fields of labor and many strong congregations. From 
among those new converts the Lord called several into the Gospel field, who 
have labored with blessed success, of whom we would mention as examples 
the brethren William Schmidt and Solomon Weber, who both served for 
many years as presiding elders. 


§ 13. An Outlook. 


If we take the towns of Waterloo and Berlin, which almost adjoin 
each other, as a center, at those times, the surrounding work was situated 
about as follows: Westward 36 miles until within 6 miles of Stratford. 
Between this lay Petersburg, Hamburg and Kleinknecht’s as chief ap- 
pointments. Preaching was had in dwelling-houses, school-houses, barns, 
in the woods and streets. When a school-house was closed the preacher 
usually took his stand before the door and preached on the text: “And 


1841. | EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 427 


the door was shut !” which often caused the opening of another door as a 
result. 

Southwestward the field extended to a log house where the town of 
Tavistock now stands. During a meeting, when a sermon was delivered 
on Acts 26,18, a man exclaimed: “I have been a member of the * * * 
Church already for 14 years, but only now I learn what true religion is ! ” 

Southeastward it extended to Blenheim. The roads leading thither 
led through swamps which were covered with branches of trees; some- 
times these were found swimming about in the water, which made riding 
on horseback quite dangerous. But the labors of the preachers were not 
in vain; the divine blessing rested upon them richly, sinners were con- 
verted, and later on a Blenheim Circuit was formed. There was also 
preaching 4 miles east of Brantford. The distance from Berlin to the 
latter place was 30 miles. A family named Orth had a deaf-mute son 
who was converted in Blenheim, and was so happy that he knew not how to 
express it—with one hand he would point upward, the other he would lay 
on his heart. This sign could be understood by all, and was also a proof of 
the operation of the Holy Spirit. 

Kastward from Berlin the work extended to York, Vaughn, Markham 
and Whitechurch. Appointments between were Hespeler, 10 miles from 
Berlin, from thence 12 miles to Morriston ; from thence to York 40 miles 
and from thence to Whitechurch 22 miles. 

During the Summer the preachers could travel in a straight line 
through a rocky ridge. At the hot noon-time they would rest at a stream 
under shady trees; horse-feed was carried along, and a little lunch also. 
Another course led through Waterdown. On this route the preachers 
would often stop with Bro. Engelhart, a German Methodist, who mani- 
fested a deep interest in the conversion of the Germans. At this place 
Bishop John Seybert and Bro. William Schmidt met for the first time. 

In a northern direction the work extended to what is now St. Jacobs. 
Preaching was had in the houses of the Fathers Hauch and Yost. 

Northwestward it was 14 miles to the so-called “ King’s Forest.” 

All of this constituted a very large circuit (in 1841) ; traveling was 
exceedingly difficult and during some seasons of the year even quite 
dangerous. The people were poor and the salary very small—$43 a year— 
but God Jehovah was with his servants, and they were often greatly re- 
joiced over sinners who repented. New doors were opened continually for 
the preaching of the Gospel. 

The fearful moral deterioration of the German population, which made 
a thorough reformation so indispensably necessary, not only continued 
among those who opposed the work and in such sections as had not yet 
been reached by the Evangelical missionaries, but was growing still worse. 
The chief cause of this tendency was the unconverted ministers who were 
mostly fugitives from justice. Most of them were drunkards and de- 

2 
: j 


428 HISTORY GOL Ii [1848. 


bauched. They conducted themselves not unfrequently in such an 
outrageous, indecent manner at weddings, funerals, and even at the celebra- 
tion of the holy sacrament that we dare not describe it! These clergy 
(“ Pfarrer”’) were very voluble in slandering the Evangelical preachers, but 
when brought to a test they took to ignominious flight! But thank God ! 
a better day is now shining ! 


§ 14. Great Awakening at ** Twenty.” 


Among the Mennonites in the southern part of Upper Canada, now 
Ontario, the Lord commenced to work mightily, especially in the section of 
the so-called “Twenty,” now Campden, about 20 miles northward from 
Niagara Falls. This awakening Bishop Seybert was wont to call the 
“oreat work of conversion among the Mennonites.” Bro. Samuel N. 
Moyer, who is now (1893) a presiding elder in the Canada Conference, 
furnishes a very interesting report on the beginning and progress of the 
work in that part of Canada from 1841 until recent times, which we here 
reproduce substantially. 

The first minister of the Hvangelical Association who labored regu- 
larly in this section was the sainted Philip Schwilly, who was preacher on 
the Blackcreek Circuit in the year 1841. He preached once or twice in the 
school-house on the “ Fly Road,” but when he came again, he found the 
school-house locked against him, and when he was informed that he would 
not be allowed to preach in it, he held his services in the woods near by. 
Later on he preached in the house of an Huropean German, named Schock. 

Bro. Jacob Gross was the next, and was followed by Bro. Frederick 
Scharffe. Bro. Gross wrote to his successor that “there is a section in the 
neighborhood of the Sonntag’s Class, called Twenty, which is a Mennonite 
settlement, where I preached several times, there are good prospects for 
conversions.” According to statements by such as were present, those 
meetings were largely attended, and many dated their conviction from 
them, although they were converted at a later time. 

In the Autumn of 1848, a great revival took place among these 
Mennonites. The person used as an instrument by the Lord was a young 
man named Jacob M. Moyer, a member of the Mennonite Church, who was 
a brother to the renowned, active Evangelist, Samuel M. Moyer. This 
young man was soundly converted at home, and then, being full of faith 
and the Holy Ghost, immediately began to exhort people with great 
earnestness to repentance and conversion. Thus he went trom house to 
house, and also testified for Jesus, wherever he found an opportunity. 
Yea, the love of Christ constrained him to travel to Bucks County, Penn- 
sylvania, for the purpose of turning the erring ones to the Saviour. His 
labors caused a remarkable stir and awakening at the “Twenty.” Several 
persons found rest for their souls, but many went along mourning and 
seeking for years before they found the precious peace of God. This re- 


1848. | EVANGELICAL ASSOCIA TION. 429 


vival led to a division in that large Mennonite congregation. Most of the 
penitents and new converts followed the lead of Father Gross, Bishop of 
the Mennonites; they held prayer-meetings, experience-meetings, etc. 
They also continued the Sunday-school which had been held for a year or 
two by a pious man named Joseph Frey. This man had been brought to 
God through the preaching of Schwilly, Gross and some Methodist prea- 
chers, and made it an object to labor among the young people. 

When the people were thus prepared and desirous for the word of 
salvation, Bro. Frederick Scharffe came upon this field of labor. In the 
beginning he preached in the house of a Lutheran named Martin Link to 
large meetings. The people, who were mostly Mennonites, listened eager- 
ly and were deeply touched by the word of God, Already at his second 
visit he prayed with some seekers and could rejoice over a new convett, in 
the person of Mrs. Link. 

The room at Link’s soon became too small, and when Bro. Scharffe at 
the close of a meeting inquired whether some one else would open his 
house for the next meeting, in two weeks, the answer came from William 
Hippel, who was a Mennonite: ‘I will open my house.” He had already 
some experience in divine life and was very solicitous for the salvation of 
his fellowmen, but especially his brethren of the Mennonite persuasion. 

At the appointed time the memorable meeting was heid in Hippel’s 
house. The large, roomy house was crowded with people, but could not 
contain all the masses that had come from far and near, many had come 10 
miles. Bishop Gross and his family and most of his adherents were also 
present. Many of the opposite party among the Mennonites were also 
there. 

Bro. Scharffe took the text Jeremiah 8, 22: “Is there no balm in 
Gilead ; is there no physician there? Why then is not the health of the 
daughter of my people recovered?” and preached the word of God with 
great freedom and in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power. The 
word penetrated many hearts. About 15 persons fell on their knees and 
continued to agonize and pray until the Lord gave the new song into their 
mouth. A great number found the pearl of great price and began to 
speak with great eloquence, full of the Holy Ghost, of the grace of God, 
to the astonishment and great wonder of the people present. 

There was a remarkable commotion among the mass of people, and the 
powers of darkness began to rebel. Some bad men wanted to press into 
the house and bring out to her mother by force, a penitent daughter, but 
they did not succeed. Then the woman herself, the mother of a respected 
family, pressed in through the crowd for this purpose, but the daughter 
said to her mother: “TI feel that I must be converted; I think if the day 
of Judgment were here, then we all could pray.” The daughter soon 
found the precious preace of God, gave a powerful testimony for Jesus, 
witnessing to the assurance of pardon and adoption, and became the instru- 


430 | HISTORY OF THE [1850. 


ment of the conversion of her mother a short time after. A woman, who 
had been seeking salvation for two years, also experienced a sound con- 
version, and, being full of the Holy Spirit, spoke as with a tongue of fire, 
exhorting with a loud voice the old men, women and leaders of the Menno- 
nite Church to repentance and conversion in a manner never heard before. 
The meeting could not be closed before two o’clock in the morning,* 

The next meeting was held by Bro. Scharffe at the house of John 
Hippel. Here also a big crowd of people gathered, and God’s children had 
a great victory. 

At the following meeting in a church in Jordan the sacrament of holy 
baptism was administered to a number of adult persons for the first time 
by an Evangelical preacher. Soon afterward Bro. Scharffe received mem- 
bers into the Church for the first time. William Hippel, Joseph Frey, 
Samuel Frey and wife, Jacob Hauser and wife, Elisabeth Gross, and others, 
15 in all, joined the Evangelical Association. In a short time still more 
followed, and at the end of the Conference year a large membership had 
been gathered. 

On Sunday the 17th of July, 1850, the first Church of the Ev. Asso- 
ciation of this place was dedicated by William Schmidt, presiding elder. 
In 1872 the congregation built a large brick church in the village of 
Campden, which was renovated and beautified in 1887, and is one of the 
finest and best Churches in the Canada Conference. 

The congregation numbers about 130 members, carries on an exempla- 
ry Sunday-school of about 220 scholars. Seven or eight men have 
gone forth from her midst as preachers of the Gospel of whom four are 
in the active service and labor with blessed success in the Canada Con- 
ference. This is the Lord’s doings, and it is marvellous in our eyes. 

The work in Canada achieved such conquests and victories through 
the labors of the faithful and self-sacrificing servants of God—among 
whom were William Schmidt, Solomon Weber, Theobald Schneider and 
others, as first fruits in Canada—that it could be formed into a presiding 
elder district, in 1847. The Lord led them on from victory to victory, so 
that in 1863 an annual conference could be organized, having now about 50 
itinerants and 6000 members, after many hundreds, probably thousands, 
have emigrated into the western States and territories of the Union, and 
hundreds have died happy in the Lord. And still the Canada Conference 
is moving forward in the name of the Lord.t 


*) During this wonderful time of salvation in the house the “ungodly” raged 
fearfully outside. Several wicked men hanged Bro. Hippel’s valuable dog out of re- 
venge because he had opened his house for the meeting. 

t) The further extension of the work in that country will be properly noticed in 
the second volume of this history. 


1815. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 431 


HISTORY OF THE PUBLISHING HOUSE OF 
THE EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 


The Publishing House is the oldest and, probably, the most blessed 
institution of the Evangelical Association, and deserves to be considered in a 
separate section of this history. The very first beginnings of it arose in 
the heart of a man who was consecrated from his youthful years up to old 
age to the work of God in the Evangelical Association—the Rev. John 
Dreisbach. 

In his diary he writes, in the year 1815, as follows: “On the 30th of 
November, I journeyed to Philadelphia for the purpose of buying a print- 
ing apparatus for the Association,’ which he intended to give to the 
Church. During this transaction he says: ‘The Lord stood by me with 
his blessing and I felt divine peace.” The printing press, types, etc. cost 
$366 ; the chest into which it was packed amounted to $3.64; the trip and 
lodging expenses, $5.30 ; a strap to be buckled around the chest, 14 cents. 
Total, $375.08. 

On the 3rd of January, 1816, Bro. Dreisbach also bought the “ gilding 
apparatus for the book-bindery for our printing establishment, from the 
bookprinter, Christian Gleim, in Harrisburg, Pa.”, for $21.50. On the 15th, 
which was according to the thermometer, the coldest day in 15 years, he 
rode on a sled to Philadelphia, and arrived there in the evening. During 
this day he was both “tempted” and “blessed.” On the 16th he paid 
“some thirty dollars to the founder, Mr. Ronaldson, for types, and also bought 
two kegs of printers’ ink for $14, besides other articles belonging to a book- 
bindery.” But now he ascertained that he had not enough funds left for 
going home, but his host loaned him $3. During the night it rained very 
hard and the snow passed rapidly away. On next morning Dreisbach 
loaded a keg of type, weighing 250 pounds, two kegs of printers’ ink, 
weighing 30 pounds, and a pair of heavy pasteboard scissors upon a 
sleigh, but was compelled to stop already at Nicetown, four miles from the 
city, at the house of Peter Wagner and unload those articles, leaving 
orders that they be sent per post-stage to Reading. He then slid along on 
his sleigh the best he could through mud and over stones back to Reading. 
This is a specimen among many of the difficulties of those days. And it 
also shows the small beginnings of our now mighty publishing interests. 

In the following June, 1816, the Conference took the following action, 
as recorded in the official protocol: “ Were elected: John Dreisbach, 
Henry Niebel, Solomon Miller, Adam Ettinger, Daniel Bertolet, Philip 


432 HISTORY OF THE [1836. 


Breidenstein, and Christopher Spangler, as a Book Commission, to take in 
hand and manage the printing and book-binding business, and all the in- 
terests belonging thereto, for the Evangelical Association, so long as the 
Annual Preachers’ Conference may see proper; and these seven men shall 
annually hold a conference, in order to conduct their management correct- 
ly ; and they shall furnish a correct account to the Annual Preachers’ 
Conference of the entire book business.”’ 


The General Conference, held in October, 1816, elected Solomon 
Miller as chief manager and Henry Niebel as assistant. <A building was 
procured in New Berlin, Pa., 20 by 26 feet in dimensions, one and one-half 
story high, and in this the business was commenced. But it was soon as- 
certained that the Association was yet too weak to support such an 
institation, the business did not earn enough profits and hence soon came 
to an end. | 

















































































































The furniture was then sold, and George Miller, who was a printer and 
book-binder, thenceforth did the work for the Church. The debts were 
gradually paid, and when in 1837 the Publishing House enterprise was re- 
vived, there were several hundred dollars in the treasury, but a dividend 
had never been made to the Conferences. 


In 1836 the Christliche Botschafter was founded. As that paper 
succeeded beyond all expectation, and the Church had grown in member- 
ship to about 7,000, who desired good literature, it was resolved by 
General Conference, chiefly through the efforts made by Rev. William W. 
Orwig, that in the coming year a Publishing House should be founded 
in New Berlin, Pa. Orwig was then appointed collector, to collect funds 
for this purpose. He found very liberal hearts and hands wherever he 
went. The members were rather more courageous in this matter than the 
preachers. The trustees who were appointed by the Conference: Philip 
Wagner, John Rank and William W. Orwig, bought a suitable build- 
ing, arranged the business, and printing was soon begun and zealously 
carried On. 


1837.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 433 

































































SS 2 SS sia 
= ——— SSS ea ae 


View of the second Publishing House—1837. 


Already a year previous committees were appointed to examine the 
following manuscripts and books : 

1, Manuscript by Samuel Miller, entitled: ‘“ Das Kernwesen der Er- 
loesung durch Christum.” (The Kernel of the Redemption through 
Christ.) 


2. Lorenzo Dow’s “Chain of Reason,”—both were ordered to be 
printed. 


3. The General Conference also resolved that 2000 copies of John 
C. Reisner’s Primer and Reader be printed. 

In 1837 it was ordered that 1500 copies of Thomas A. Kempis’ 
“ Tmitation of Christ,’ 1000 copies of Miller’s ‘ Practical Christianity,” 
1000 copies of Vogelbach’s German Grammar, 500 copies of the Consti- 
tution of the Missionary Society, and 1000 Sunday-school tickets, etc. be 
printed. Soon afterward followed the publication of a German pocket 
Bible, Collier’s “Introduction to the Holy Scriptures,’ ‘ Fletcher’s Ap- 
peal,” ete. 

In a few years hundreds of thousands of copies of books were issued, 
of which but few remained in stock, and the receipts exceeded the ex- 
penditures very considerably. 

It will be of great interest to get a glimpse of the income and ex- 
penditures of the Publishing House inclusive of the dividends to the An- 
nual Conferences for the support of poor and superannuated preachers and 
their widows and orphans and partly also the salary of the Bishops from 
the year 1837 until 1887 inclusive. It will be evident that the profits of 
the House have been much larger than these dividends, because a large 
sum had annually to be retained in the treasury for the proper prosecution 
and enlargement of the business, and the purchase of ground for the 
erection of more buildings, etc. 


434 


HISTORY OL it His 


[1837. 


The following table will give an approximate view of this prosper- 
ous business. 


Year. 


1837 
1838 
1839 
1840 
1841 
1842 
1843 
1844 
1845 
1846 
1847 
1848 
1849 
1850 
1851 
1852 
1853 
1854 
1855 
1856 
1857 
1858 
1859 
1860 
1861 
1862 


$ 


Receipts. 


2.598 47} 
2.562.474 
2.598.304 
3,643.764 
3,762,524 
5.271.208 


5,850.03 
4,656.18 


4,781.13} 
4,854.823 


6,693.75 
5,792.10 
6,798.11 
7,279.60 
7,059.20 
9,333.29 
11,285.31 
8 665.95 
14,796.46 
14,567.75 
14,763.28 
14,851.31 
13,919.01 
20,935.34 
20,469.16 
28,307.04 


Dividend. 


$ 500.00 
500.00 


1,200.00 
900.00 


1,707.45 
1,200.00 

800.00 
1,600.00 
1,400.00 
2,000.00 

500.00 
1,500.00 
1,500.00 
2,100.00 
2,300.00 
1,400.00 
2,450.00 
2,800.00 
2,800.00 
2,800.00 
2,800.00 
3150.00 
2250 00 
2,713.50 


Year. 
1863 
1864 
1865 
1866 
1867 
1868 
1869 
1870 
1871 
1872 
1873 
1874 
1875 
1875 
1877 
1878 
1879 
1880 
1881 
1882 
1883 
1884 


1885 © 


1886 
1887 


Receipts. Dividend. 
27,259.82 $ 1,350.00 
40,042.12 1,200.00 
43,973.25 1,200.00 
47,917.87 1,800.00 
48,584.88 1,800.00 
54,018.78 
73,147.76 1,400.00 
72,113.65 2,100.00 
91,850.06 2,800.00 
96,839.24 2,850.00 
113,517.50 4,900.31 
115,157.06 3,250.00 
120,000.00 3,980.00 
130,616.03 3,900.00 
138,689.92 6,301.30 
161,046.77 6,750.00 
142,357.08 9 443.00 
157,088.91 11,381.54 
181,962.19 13,173.68 
202,144.36 19,529.92 
209,901.23 20,302.00 
194,353.67 19,532.79 
200,424.04 19,629.46 
202,496.15 20,058.00 
205,145.76 18,521.41 


$3,316,735.05 $240,024.36 


In the year 1879 there was $10,000 loaned out of the profits of the 


business to the branch Publishing House in Stuttgart, Germany, which 
proved to be a great help to that institution. 

As an example of the annual amount of money handled by the 
Publishing House we insert the receipts and expenditures in the quadren- 
nium of 1884-1887, as follows: 


1884. 
1885. 


1886. 
1887. 


Receipts, $194,353.67 
Expenditures, 165,451.08 
Receipts, $200,424.04 


Expenditures, 168,853.14 


Receipts, 
Expenditures, 
Receipts, 
Expenditures, 


$203,496.15 
169,670.35 
$205,145.76 
167,690.08 


Total exchange in this quadrennium : 


$359,804.75. 


$369,277.18. 
$373,166.50, 


. $872,835.84. 
$1,475,084.27, 


Thus during these fifty years, which include also the years of the 
small beginnings, the income exceeded three and a quarter million dollars, 
and the dividends to the conferences for the support of the poor and 
aged preachers and their widows and orphans amounted to nearly a 


1850. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 435 


quarter of a million dollars! Besides the total value of the publishing 
interests and properties was calculated in 1887 to be nearly half a million ! 
Debts—none ! 

This representation is limited to the financial feature of the Publish- 
ing House, but who can estimate the blessings which it has spread through 
its publications for time and eternity. No pen is competent for this. 

Although the removal of the Publishing House from New Berlin, Pa. 
to Cleveland, Ohio, and several enlargements and new buildings belong 
chronologically to the second volume of this history, it will be more con- 
venient for the reader to see a brief summary of those events here. 

As the Association was growing rapidly and the business became ex- 
tended, especially in the West and Canada, the inconvenience of New 
Berlin as the place of business was strongly realized. It was quite 
distant from railroads, and mail arrangements were insufficient, hence the 
propriety of removing the Establishment to some large city became a sub- 
ject of animated discussion in the Church papers. The General 
Conference of 1851 resolved that the removal should take place on the 
condition that the cost of the new property—grounds and buildings—should 
not exceed the sum of $12,000, and of this at least threefourths ($9,000) 
must first be secured by good subscriptions. This was a wise provision. The 
election by a majority of votes resulted in the choice of Cleveland, Ohio, 
and as a committee on removal the following brethren were appointed : 
Joseph Long, Henry Fischer, John Dreisbach, William W. Orwig, John G. 
Zinser and George F. Spreng. This removal found much favor in the 
Church and the $9,000 were soon secured. The grounds cost $4,360 and 
the buildings $8,000. This building was at that time regarded as some- 
thing magnificent in Cleveland, and the chief paper of the city published 
an extensive description of it as such. 

Growth is at the same time enlargement and requires more room, and 
thus this building also became too small for the business and another 
stately edifice was erected on a newly purchased ground on corner of Vine 
and Woodland in 1874, which cost over $40,000, for which the money was 
in the treasury. (See the view on page 437.) 

Soon afterward a new four-story building arose in the rear of the 
main edifice, fronting on Harmon Street, to obtain room for the large 
presses and the further extension of the business, because the building of 
1854 had become too small for the machinery, etc. This addition cost 
about $18,000. 

Toward the year 1884 the room again became too narrow, hence the 
building of 1854 was taken down and a much larger one—also a four-story 
stately edifice—arose on the corner of Woodland Avenue and Harmon 
Street, which cost the sum of $30,000, about $10,000 less than the other 
building, although this latter is considerably larger. Certain favorable cir- 
cumstances, together with good management, were the cause of this large 


p> 
es 
Oo 


HISTORY OF THE [1854. 


alot 


i 


/ 


ITT 
HOTA Uaea cust eeccTr 





View of the third Publishing House—1854. 


saving. The whole front of this magnificent building measures 123 feet 
on Woodland Avenue, and the depth is 100 feet. The interior arrange- 
ment comprises everything that belongs to a first-class book, newspaper, 
binding, electrotyping and printing business, leaving scarcely anything to 
be desired. The reader will please take a good look at the view of the 


present Publishing House and he will see that we have in nowise over- 
stated the facts. ‘ 


Besides the blessing of God, resting so visibly on this institution the 


following co-operating causes of its prosperity deserve also to be men- 
tioned : 


1. From the very beginning the rule to make but few debts was 
adopted and practiced. The cost of founding the House and also of its 
subsequent removal was almost entirely covered by voluntary donations, 


2. The salaries of the officers and editors were always small, scarce- 
ly half the amount paid in other similar institutions. 


3. There is but one Publishing House in the Evangelical Association 


in America, which, of course, is supported by all parts of the Church on 
this continent. 


1874.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIA TION. 437 














































































































































































































































































































































































































View of the New Building of 1874. 


4, Themanagement has been always conducted with good business tact | 
and strict honesty. The managing agents have always been preachers, and 
their successful management has been one of the reasons why there has 
been so little agitation among us for lay delegation among the lay-members 
of the Church. 

5. We have a progressive, reading membership who want a good 
supply of church-papers and good books. 

6. We have excellent church papers and magazines, 

7. We have generally active, diligent and successful agents who 
work for the House. Long may it flourish ! 












































le we 
















































































NW 


1 Ne 


The Publishing House at present. 


1836.| EVANGELICAL ASSOCIA TION. 439 


A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CHRISTLICHE 
BOTSCHAFTER. 


This grand Church paper appeared for the first time in January, 1836, 
having but 700 subscribers, at a time when the Church numbered about 
5,000 members. Adam Ettinger and George Miller were the first editor 
and publisher. During that year the number of subscribers rose to 
1,100. Aithough small in form—84 inches wide and 102 inches long, hav- 
ing 8 pages—and ina literary respect somewhat imperfect, it contained 
many articles of sterling worth, both original and selected, and also re- 
ports of awakenings and revivals on the fields of labor, and some Church 
news. This wholesome literature made the paper a very welcome visitor, 
yea, so inspiring was it to some of the readers that they sent in not only 
their gratulations in prose but also in poetry. Many subscribers not only 
preserved it, but had its volumes bound and placed in their libraries ; this 
was continued by many of them until later enlargements of the form of 
the paper made it impracticable. The paper appeared at first monthly 
at the annual price of 75 cents. 

Toward the close of the first year Adam Ettinger resigned the editor- 
ship, and General Conference—it being the sixth—held on the 14th of 
November, 1836, elected William W. Orwig in his place as editor, who en- 
tered upon the discharge of this office in April, 1837. Bro. Orwig had 
been the chief advocate of the founding of the Botschafter and Publishing 
House, and now he was also appointed collector for the House, editor of 
the paper, chief manager, and was with two others also appointed trustee 
for the erection of the Publishing House—work enough for three men— 
with a salary of $150 per year.* Bro. Orwig was at that time far the 
ablest and most energetic man among the younger portion of the ministry. 
Under his editorship the paper made considerable progress in several 
respects. General Conference in 1839, elected Charles Hammer as 
managing agent, thus the editor could apply more of his time and attention 
to the paper. 


*) It may be quite interesting, and in some respects also just, to state here what 
amounts of salary Bro. Orwig received during the first six years of his service in 
the Publishing House, part of which time he served both as editor and managing 
agent: 


1837 . . $150.00. 1840 p ; $175.00. 
1838 ; : 150.00. 1841 : ° 190.00. 
1839 : 175.00. 1842 ‘ ° 190.00. 


Additional by General Conference : ° 100.00. 


440 HISTORY OF THE [1847. 


In the beginning of 1840 the Botschafter appeared semi-monthly 
enlarged in form and the price was raised to one dollar, to be paid within 
the year, but those who neglected thus to pay were charged $1.25, Many 
friends of the paper feared this arrangement would operate detrimentally, 
but the editor was soon able to inform these faint-hearted ones that the Bot- 
schafter had commenced its fifth year with 2,070 subscribers and there had 
been less discontinuances at the close of the past year than in former 
years, 

In April, 1842, Hammer resigned the office of managing agent and 
Thomas Buck was elected in his place, who, however, died already in the 
following month of October. On the 1st of October the paper appeared 
for the first time in mourning. Bro. William W. Orwig was again ap- 
pointed as the General Book Agent, and William Bersch associated with 
him as a helper in the editing of the paper, who from that time forth 
for many years was a useful and faithful assistant in the Publishing 
House. 

The General Conference of 1843 again elected Adam Ettinger as 
editor because Orwig, after seven years service retired from this work, and 
John C, Reisner was elected General Book Agent. Ettinger used a sharp 
pen, and as the Evangelical Association about this time was attacked by 
several younger ecclesiastical papers of other denominations, as also by 
several pamphleteers, he dealt out to them such sturdy blows that they be- 
gan to realize something quite strange and retreated without ceremony. 

The ninth General Conference (1847) elected Nicholas Gehr as editor 
of the Botschafter, Henry Fischer as Chief Book Agent, and William 
Bersch was elected regularly as assistant to the editor, chiefly because 
Gehr had also to edit the Evangelical Messenger, which was called into 
existence by this Conference. Mr. Gehr had served a little over one year 
when his resignation was suddenly published in the Botschafter of May 1, 
1849. From this announcement it appears that he had changed his views 
concerning the doctrine of entire sanctification, and that he strongly 
leaned toward the views of the German Reformed Church in Pennsylvania, 
which he then immediately joined. John G. Zinser was then elected as 
editor of the Botschafter, and the Messenger was entrusted to Henry 
Fischer, having William Bersch for his assistant. But Bro. Zinser declined 
the appointment. Bro. Fischer then called the Book-committee together, 
‘which met on the 21st of June, 1849, and again elected William W. Orwig 
as editor of the Botschafter. With the issue of August 1, 1849, Orwig 
again entered upon the editorship which he had declined five years before. 
The Botschafter prospered continually amidst these disturbing changes. 

With the fifteenth volume (1850) a new chapter in the history of the 
paper opened, it was again enlarged and received new types. It now 
numbered about 4,000 subscribers and gained continually in regard to so- 
lidity, prestige and influence. 


1851.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 441 


The tenth General Conference, October, 1851, decreed the removal of 
the Publishing House from New Berlin, Pa., to Cleveland, Ohio, and 
ordered also that from that time forth 26 numbers should be issued annu- 
ally instead of 24 as had been the case until then. Bro. Orwig was again 
elected editor and General Book Agent, and John G. Zinser as assistant 
editor of the Botschafter. The latter, however, could only serve about one 
year, when he was compelled to resign on account of failing eyesight. 
Bro. Orwig then, assisted by Bro. Bro. Bersch, served as editor of both 
papers and General Book Agent until April, 1854. Certainly more than 
enough work of an exhaustive nature for one man ! 

The West Pa. Conference, in March, 1853, called Rev. Charles G. Koch 
of the Pittsbnrg Conference as editor of the Christliche Botschafter in 
place of Bro. Orwig who had resigned, and as the Publishing House was 
to be removed to Cleveland, Ohio, he also resigned as agent and Bro. 
Hammer was again elected to this position, who, however, immediately re- 
signed, whereupon Rev. Michael F'. Meesz of the East Pa. Conference was 
elected, who also resigned. <A year later (1854) Bro. Hammer was again 
elected to this position. Bro. Orwig departed from the Botschafter ad- 
dressing its readers, on the 20th of April, in the following words: “This 
is the second time that we retire from the editorship. The first time we 
served from April, 1837, to the close of December, 1843—almost seven 
years, The second time we were called hither in July, 1849, under dis- 
couraging circumstances, and we have now in all served nearly twelve 
years as editor of the Botschafter.” Bro. Koch then took the editorial 
chair, on May 1, 1853, and sent out an excellent salutation under the 
heading: “In the Name of Jesus.” Bro. Henry Fischer, who had served 
alternately as editor of the Botschafter and Messenger, died in the Lord 
on the 20th of January, 1854. 

On the 5th of April, 1854, the Botschafter appeared for the last time 1n 
New Berlin, Pa., in its 19th year ; then it was transferred to Cleveland. After 
this removal Bro. Hammer entered upon his duties as General Book Agent. 

The General Conference held in 1855, at Lebanon, Pa., re-elected Bro. 
Koch as editor for four years, and also Bro. Hammer as General Book 
Agent. It was resolved that payment in advance should be adopted. By 
the credit system much money had been lost, but this new arrangement 
proved itself very practical, and also just to the Publishing House. The 
“Christliche Kinderfreund” was also founded by this Conference and 
placed under the editorship of Bro. Koch, who was a very industrious 
laborer and an excellent editor. 

The General Conference in Naperville, Ill., 1859, elected Bro. Koch as 
editor for four years longer, but during this term his health began to fail. 
In the year 1861 a new and very important arrangement went into effect— 
the Botschafter appeared weekly since November, without raising its price 
of $1.00 per annum. 


449 HISTORY OF THE [1889. 


As Bro. Koch’s failing health did not permit his re-election, Bro. Orwig 
was elected in 1863, and Bro. Hammer again re-elected as General Book 
Agent. After the expiration of this term (1867), Rudolph Dubs was 
elected editor and Bro. Orwig General Book Agent. At the same time 
the Botschafter was much enlarged and its price raised to $2.00. Dubs 
was an energetic editor, and a notable progress was the result. Dur- 
ing Dubs’ time of service there was a flourishing period in the Evangelical 
Association ; German immigration was quite strong and the Botschafter 
gained many subscribers. Bro. Orwig resigned his office in the Spring of 
1870 and Rev. William F. Schneider, of the Wisconsin Conference was in- 
stalled by the Board of Publication as his successor, and was also 
elected by the General Conference in 1871, held in Naperville, LI. 

At the General Conference in Philadelphia, 1875, Rudolph Dubs was 
elected as Bishop and Bro. Martin Lauer was elected editor of the Bot- 
schafter and Bro. Schneider re-elected as agent. The latter, however, was 
called from his post by death, near the close of his term. 

Next Bro. M. Lauer was elected General Book Agent, and Bro. William 
Horn as editor of the Botschafter by the General Conference cf 1879. He 
served continually until 1891. In 1884 the Botschafter was again enlarged 
and its form changed to sixteen pages, so that it can be handled, opened 
and closed like a book. 

The Botschafter is not only the oldest German Church paper in this 
country but also the largest and cheapest, perhaps in the whole world. 
Under the editorship of Bro. Horn it again made considerable progress. 

On the 6th of July, 1885, a splendidly illustrated Jubilee issue ap- 
peared, in which a paragraph reads as follows: “At present the 
Botschafter 1s at least five times larger than it was at its first issue, and 
now appears weekly instead of monthly. If the subscription price should 
now be calculated according to quantity, the paper which then cost 75 cents 
would now come to $15.00. We may boldly say that this paper is not ex- 
ceeded in regard to price and contents by any other paper.” 

As near as can be ascertained the development of the list of sub- 
scribers from its start until now was as follows: 








1836 700] 1845 3,000] 1862 11,114] 1874 19,966] 1884 22,450 
1837 1,100] 1849 3,500|1863 1324811875 20.282] 1887 22,500 
1838 1,700] 1850 4,000 | 1867 13,296] 1879 19,400 | 1888 22,600 
1840 2,070 | 1854 5,500 | 1871 17,280] 1883 22,100 |1889 23,500 





1847. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION, 443 


BRIEF HISTORY OF THE EVANGELICAL 
MESSENGER. 


In the latter part of the fourth decade of the present century the 
Evangelical Association strongly felt the need of an English Church or- 
gan. Already the General Conference in 1843 took this subject into 
serious consideration and resolved ‘“ that an English paper be published as 
soon as practiable.” But it proved to be slow in maturing. The causes of 
this were given in the first issue of the Messenger, as follows: ‘Several 
reasons could be mentioned why our paper did not appear sooner. The 
desired and necessary number of subscribers was not obtained. Probably 
also the issue was delayed because of the want of the necessary ambition. 
This fact, it seems to us to beadmitted by the extra zeal manifested by 
those who are interested in the prosperity of our only and so much needed 
English Church paper.” 

The Messenger appeared in 1847, having 800 subscribers. As to its 
outward appearance it was a large sheet of four pages and 16 columns of 
reading matter. It contained no advertisements, was issued every two weeks, 
and cost $1.00 a year. The first editor was Nicholas Gehr, who also edited 
the Christliche Botschafter, but resigned his position about a year after- 
ward and withdrew from the Church on account of doctrinal differences, 
and for other reasons. The then existing Board soon after that—in May, 
1849—appointed Henry Fischer as the second editor, who had already 
since Gehr’s withdrawal edited the paper, and William Bersch was appoint- 
ed assistant. In 1851, the English paper received another form, and there- 
by became quite similar to the Botschafter. In 1853, Bro. Fischer became 
sick, so that in the month of October he had to cease from his labors and 
on the 20th, 1854, he entered into his eternal rest. He was a highly 
esteemed, godly man, and his departure was generally mourned. During 
his sickness Bro. Orwig attended to his duties, In March, 1854, Rev. J. 
L. W. Seibert was appointed as editor, who entered upon his appointment 
as the third editor, in Apmil, 1854, with the 8th issue of the seventh vol- 
ume. This number appeared in Cleveland, Ohio, whither the Publishing 
House had meanwhile been removed. But Seibert’s editorial career was 
very brief. He thought that he ought to resign for considerations of 
health, which he did already on the 13th of September, 1854. The Board 
of Publication then appointed the highly esteemed Rev. John Dreisbach as 
the fourth editor, who served until May, 1856, when he was compelled by 
reason of old age and feebleness to resign at the session of the Ohio Con- 
ference, whereupon that Conference appointed Rev. Theophilus G. Clewell, 


of the East Pa, Conference, who was then the fifth editor of the Messen- 
29 


444 HISTORY OF THE {1889. 


ger. During the service of Clewell many changes of the paper were intro- 
duced, From 1847 until 1864 the price of the paper had been $1.00), but 
in the month of August in the last named year it was raised to $1.75 
and thus remained until 1861. In 1861 the Messenger was promoted to a 
weekly paper. When Clewell resigned his office in 1871 the Board of 
Publication appointed Rev. Reuben Yeakel in his place who was then the 
sixth editor, and Rev. Aaron W. Orwig was associated with him as assist- 
ant. But the subsequent General Conference, held in Naperville, Illinois 
elected Mr. Yeakel as Bishop, and placed Rev. Jacob Hartzler in the 
editorial chair, he being the seventh editor, who served until 1879 when 
General Conference elected Rev. Henry B. Hartzler as his successor, who 
was the eighth in the succession. His career ended with deposition by 
General Conference in 1887. That Conference elected Rev. Samuel P. 
Spreng as editor, who is the ninth incumbent of this office. In 1884, the 
form of the paper was also changed to the book form, and thereby again 
somewhat enlarged. 

The Messenger commenced‘in 1847 with 800 subscribers; in 1854 they 
numbered 2,354; in 1863 they had increased to 6,625, but four years 
afterward the number was reduced to 6,576. In 1889 it numbered about 
12,000, and was gaining many new patrons. 


1850.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIA TION, 445 


RETROSPECTIVE REMARKS. 


We have now arrived at the close of the fourth period and therewith 
also at the conclusion of this first volume of the history of the Evangelical 
Association. We have gone through one century—1750 to 1850-—and have 
contemplated both the relative previous history and the real beginning of 
our Church, we have observed above all things the marvelous, overruling 
hand of the Lord, who causes all things to work together, so that “ men 
might be saved, and come to a knowledge of the truth.” 

We have also seen, especially during the last described period, that, 
besides the foundational and pioneering mission-work of the Evangelical 
Association, the work of perfecting the organization and completing the 
denominational edifice of this Church was also zealously prosecuted. 
With the growth of the number of members and preachers, as also in 
temporal property, the spirit of enterprise kept pace in all respects, and the 
work of the Lord prospered gloriously. 

We say with all deliberation—the work of the Lord. The Spirit of 
the Lord was resting upon those Evangelical preachers and their motto 
was: “To save souls, is our calling.” In those years we heard Bishop 
Seybert joyously express his gratitude to God that we had “not one un- 
converted preacher in our ministry,’ as he believed. They were men 
whom God had called into the work, who, though not being faultless angels, 
were certainly men of God, whose entire ambition and earnest efforts were 
aimed at “working the work of the Lord,’ as Paul the apostle said for 
himself and Timothy, 1 Cor. 16, 10. Not to gather earthly treasures 
nor to obtain high titles as attachments to their names, not to strive for 
hich offices and then “lord it over God’s heritage,” but to bring the great- 
est possible number of sinners to Christ, lead believers on unto perfection 
in Christ Jesus, and thus gain “ many stars into their heavenly crowns ’— 
which was then an Evangelical proverb—that was the goal of their am- 
bition. They looked unto the recompense of the reward, and with Paul 
pressed forward to obtain the high prize of their calling in Christ Jesus. 

The manner of preaching of those men was certainly not a superficial, 
sensational effort for effect. Far from it. We insert an extract from an 
article which the sainted Bro, Charles Hammer wrote shortly before his 
departure to glory. He describes the manner of preaching and working of 
the Evangelical preachers during that period as follows : 

“The subjects of their preaching were chiefly as follows: The great 
Fall and Depravity of Man; Redemption through Christ; Genuine Re- 
pentance; Saving Faith; Regeneration by the Holy Spirit; Divine Son- 
ship; The Witness of the Holy Spirit; Sanctification and Christian 
Perfection ; Self-denial and Following Christ ; Christian Duties ; Freedom 


446 HISTORY OF THE [1850. 


from Sin through Jesus’ Blood; the Difference between true and false 
Christianity : the Spiritual Declension of the Church ; Separation from the 
World; Putting off the Old and putting on the New Man; and also 
eschatological subjects, viz: Death, Resurrection, Judgment, Heaven, 
Hell, etc. They chose their texts accordingly and endeavored to prove 
every point with appropriate passages of Holy Writ, and thus rivet them 
upon the conciences of their hearers, They prayed and wrestled with God 
for light, unction and power, in order to preach the word deep into the 
hearts and consciences, attended with the demonstration of the Holy 
Spirit, with great assurance and boldness. This kind of preaching made 
deep and radical impressions. People saw their wretchedness in sin in 
the light of God’s Word, and the heart-broken sinner was then pointed to 
the great salvation in Christ. At that time the preachers knew nothing of 
sketch-books, they did not preach on non-essentials, much less on the events 
of the day or eccentric themes which awaken superficial sensation, as is 
only too often the case at the present day. Sin of all kinds and in all its 
ramifications would be attacked with the intention to destroy these works 
of the devil and liberate precious souls from Satan's thraldom. Preachers 
generally lived what they preached ; in their pastoral visits and conver- 
sations there was no levity, nor foolish talk, nor unseemly conduct 
prevailing ; they would speak to the consciences of the people, exhort 
and pray with them, by which means many were awakened and converted. 
They were generally men of God, full of faith and the Holy Ghost, mighty 
in the Scriptures, and their resulting fruits responded to their spirits and 
efforts.”* What a grand testimony this is! And yet we can confirm it 
unhesitatingly as far as our own observation extended during the years 
1835-1850, : 

We add here some recollections given by an eye-witness of those 
years, in the Christliche Botschafter of July 6, 1885, as follows: “They 
(the Evangelical preachers) penetrated into the truths of the Bible and 
received them believingly into their own hearts until they were quickened, 
moved, permeated and filled with them, then they would open the flood- 
gates upon their audiences, and a stream of light, truth and power, 
accompanied by suitable Scripture passages, stanzas from hymns, Cate- 
chism passages, parables and powerful applications would pour into the 
congregation, the effects of which were frequently quite extraordinary. 
Ofttimes a general ‘power of repentance’ (Busskraft) would fail upon 
the people, causing floods of penitential tears, and many cried to God for 
the pardon of their sins. 

“The preachers were quite plainly but neatly dressed, smoothly shaven, 
wearing white neckties and white hats ; many of them observed a precise, 


*) It ought to be said here that the applications of discipline to preachers for 
transgressions, of which we frequently read in this volume, had reference mostly to 
local preachers. . 


1850.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 447 


almost military gait and demeanor, without however, any approach to 
foppishness. They were men of God and embassadors for Christ who 
realized deeply their responsibility toward God and blood-bought souls. 
Their appearance and demeanor commanded respect. 

“ In those times the Evangelical preachers went forth to make conquests. 
Every one was a missionary and endeavored to find an entrance into new 
sections of the country. And in this matter the presiding elders set a 
good example, for between the quarterly meetings they were often doing 
pioneer work. At that time newly converted souls were the crowns and 
stars which distinguished a preacher. When in 1839 they wanted to elect 
a Bishop, they did not seek after a man who could by shining talents and 
eloquence and pulpit demonstrations secure the admirations of the 
people and represent something great, but they elected the plain, childlike, 
but very pious, Holy-Ghost-annointed John Seybert, who, in the salvation 
of souls and the spread of the work had been very successful. 

‘In 1843, they selected the plain, and in the eyes of the world unknown 
Joseph Long for Bishop, chiefly because he was, like Apollos, mighty in 
the Scriptures, so that he had scarcely his equal in that respect, while in 
self-denial and labor for the Lord he presented a wholesome pattern to the 
Church. 

‘The sermons in those times did not make the impression: ‘Oh, what 
a great preacher!’ rather ‘Oh, what a great sinner I am, and how great 
is the mercy of God towards me!’ God and His Word and grace were 
glorified, and the preacher, who indeed was beloved and esteemed, vanished 
before the Sun of Righteousness behind the Cross. 

“The wives of preachers were in regard to dress, conduct and influence, 
such as apostles Paul and Peter required Christian wives to be. Young 
preachers were intent on winning such wives as should set godly examples to 
the flock, and walk worthily before the Lord. Generally they were an 
ornament to the Church, although not by wearing gold and jewelry and 
appearing in gay, fashionable dress, but being clothed with humility and 
the virtues of Christ. The preacher’s family was to be regulated in ac- 
cordance with the doctrine of Christ and the promises of the ordination 
vows.” 

When the Missionary Society was formed in 1838, there arose a gener- 
al emulation among old and young to support this good cause. At that 
time no Woman’s Missionary Society was needed to awaken missionary 
zeal. Men, women and children brought their contributions to the auxiliary 
societies. There was much saving and self-denial practiced in dress and 
living, even at the table, and the preachers’ families remained not a whit 
behind. Blooming daughters of preachers dressed still more plainly and 
savingly, in order to be able to give the more liberally and thereby became 
more pleasing to God and sensible men. 

Secret prayer was diligently practiced. Because Daniel daily prayed 


448 HISTORY OF THE [1850- 


three times in his summer-house, those Evangelicals took this as an 
example for Christians, and hence it was a strict Evangelical custom to 
pray three times a day in secret, and in class-meetings it was a point of 
searching inquiry whether this usage was duly respected ; and upon these 
secret prayers followed public rewards, as the Saviour promised. 

The comparatively little flock had also its defects and infirmities— 
and there were also some exceptions among the good, even as Christ had 
one among His twelve chosen ones—but their faults were generally not 
essential ones. 

Church Discipline was strictly and faithfully applied to transgressing 
preachers and members. Fashionable dress and a worldly spirit were not 
tolerated. In this respect Bishop Seybert’s trumpet gave forth a specially 
clear and ringing tone. . 

Expulsion from the Church was dreaded as an awful misfortune ; the 
fallen and expelled were regarded as has having been hanged upon the 
ecclesiastical gibbet ; the very word “ backslider” caused a shudder, and 
there was an instinctive feeling of separation from such. 

The general motto was: Watching, prayer, battling against sin and 
Satan, and victory over the world. They sang their choruses with high 


enthusiasm : 
“ Kin wahres Christenthum besteht, 
Wann Erd’ und Himmel untergeht, 
Hin reines Gold hilt aus die Prob’, 
Erfillt die Welt mit Jesu Lob,” 


which being transposed into prose would read about thus: “ A true reli- 
gion will stand when earth and heaven pass away; and pure gold will 
stand the test and fill the world with the praises of Christ.” 


Again they would sing: 


“ Sucht ein wahres Christenthum, 
Wer recht kimpfet, soll tragen die Kron’ 
Und niedersitzen mit dem Sohn.”’ 


That is to say: “Seek ye a true Christianity ; he that battles rightly 
shall wear the crown, and sit down with the Son !” 

Those times did indeed demand a true Christianity, in order to bear 
all the scoffs, crosses and persecutions that befell the Evangelicals from 
various directions. But “with Jesus in the soul”—as they also often 
sang—the old Evangelical chorus was heard a thousand times in their 
meetings : 

“’S ist wohl ein wenig Kreuz und Schmach, 
Wir kénnen’s aber tragen. 
Singt: Glorie, Hallelujah !” 

Another prominent characteristic was the setting of the affections on 
things above and not on things of the earth, as Paul admonishes, which 
was often expressed in their popular songs. 


1850.] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIA TION. 449 


They regarded themselves as “pilgrims, strangers and guests ” here 
below, and therefore delighted in singing Gerhard Tersteegen’s hymn for 
spiritual pilgrims, which begins : 

“ Kommt, Kinder, lasst uns gehen, 
Der Abend kommt herbei.” 
(Come, children, let us go, for the evening cometh on.) 


Or Walter’s : 


“Kommt, Briider, kommt, wir eilen fort,” etc. 
(Come brethren, come, we hasten on.) 


Also Dreisbach’s translations : 


“ We are traveling home to heaven above,” etc. 
(Wir reisen heim zum Himmel fort.) 
And 
‘“* Come on, my partners in distress,” etc. 
(Kommt fort, Gesellen in Triibsal.) 


And frequently the following chorus was sung like a marching hymn: 
“ O seid im Ernst, o seid im Ernst! 
Wir reisen nach der Ewigkeit!” 
(Oh, be in earnest, oh, be in earnest ! 
We're traveling to eternity ! ) 

And many more of the same sort. 

A lively worship was highly appreciated. The preaching was to be 
full of “power,” the “praises of God” must be heard from the ‘“ children 
of God” besides the cries of penitents; and at campmeetings a “ shout 
in the camp of King Emmanuel,” was expected to take place. In short, 
no one was satisfied without “victory ” in preaching and in the exercises. 
No one, perhaps, would enjoy this more than Bishop Seybert, whose “0, 
seliges Leben !”’ (Oh, blessed life!) will never be forgotten by those who 
heard him start this, his favorite chorus. 

But it can not be denied that there was at times considerable smoke— 
something merely human—mixed with the fire. But fire, the real fire of 
the Holy Spirit and the powerful presence of God, was also burning and 
sometimes intensely consuming among “ these people,” so that sinners fell 
down and confessed that God was there. 

The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper was held in very high esteem, : 
and this characteristic reminds one strongly of the primitive Christian 
Church who held the eucharist much more sacred and important than has 
been the case in later times. 

It was then acustom to keep the Friday previous to the quarterly meet- 
ing as a day of fasting and prayer, in order to get into a proper frame of 
mind for the following sacramental Sunday, and this was generally observed. 
(‘How is itnow?) The Quarterly Conference, which was usually held on 
Saturday forenoon had for its object to ascertain whether all the officers 
and members of the congregation had conducted themselves as 


450 HISTORY OF THE [1850- 


Christians, so that they might be admitted as worthy guests to the Lord's 
Supper. On Saturday afternoon and frequently also on Sunday morning the 
presiding elder would deliver a “sermon for Christians,” in which 
Christian experience, life and duties were described clearly and keen prac- 
tical applications made. Frequently also a sacramental sermon was 
preached, mostly, however, a short “ preparatory address ” was delivered just 
before the distribution of the bread and wine took place, in which the 
nature and object of the sacrament was explained and both the worthy 
and unworthy characters were described, closing with an impressive 
exhortation to a sincere self-examination. With deep humiliation before 
God and a serious state of mind the elements would then be distributed 
and received when ofttimes tears of penitence or joy would flow in abund- 
ance. At camp-meetings this solemn transaction usually took place on 
Friday morning as the last day of the meeting; and this sacrament was so 
highly honored that the friends would appear attired in their clean Sunday 
clothes, and the sisters, as far as was convenient, clothed in white apparel. 
If a presiding elder or officiating minister would have ventured to have the 
Lord’s Supper administered without any special presentation of the subject 
in his sermon or address and without earnest admonition to self-examina- 
tion, it would have been held as as a blasphemous disregard of the 
sacredness of this institution, and would have been followed by some very 
tangible reproof. Whosoever will properly examine and appreciate this 
holy mystery, in accordance with our 16th article of faith, will agree with us 
that this high appreciation of the Lord’s Supper by the ‘old Evangeli- 
cals” deserves our hearty, favorable recognition. If the time should 
ever come that this Church treats this sacrament, which is so dear to the 
Lord Himself, lightly and superficially, it will be a sure indication of 
spiritual declension and lukewarmness toward Christ Himself. 

Another prominent feature was a “fervent brotherly love.” Hated 
and persecuted by the “unconverted world,” this “bond of perfectness ” 
united them most intimately. The preachers had the welfare and 
salvation of the congregations very closely at heart, and lovingly en- 
deavored to “lead them on to that holiness without which no man shall 
see the Lord,” a mode of expression which Bishop Joseph Long often 
used. For this reason the presiding elders preached at quarterly and 
camp-meetings, at least one “sharp sermon” in which ‘Jerusalem 
was searched through with lanterns,” which also was an Evangelical 
proverb. No Agag would then be spared. They were striving like 
Paul, to “present to Christ a chaste virgin.” At camp-meetings, which 
usually commenced on Monday evening, it was customary on Tuesday 
morning to “commence judgment at the house of God,” when also the 
preachers present would get their proper portion. The presiding elders: 
John Dreisbach, Henry Niebel, John G. Zinser, Thomas Buck, John Sey- 
bert, John P. Leib, Henry Fischer, Francis Hoffmann, Samuel Baumgartner, 


1850. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 451 


Absalom B. Schafer and others, knew very well how to handle the “Sword 
of the Spirit” on such occasions. Many of those close-cutting sermons are 
unforgetable. It was then generally recognized that such sermons were 
very wholesome ; they were highly appreciated, and whoever found himself 
“hit”? by them would usually humble himself under the authority of the 
Word of God, and confirm it by inward and outward submission to it, which 
was followed by blessed results, 

The members esteemed the preachers “ highly, for their work’s sake.” 
The great self-denial, severe conflicts and and labors as also the unctuous 
sermons and wholesome soul-food which these servants of the Lord set 
before God’s household, were greatly appreciated. And as the preachers on 
most circuits could make their round of appointments only in from two to 
four weeks time, the people became very hungry for the word of life. The 
preacher was regarded as a servant of the Lord, as a captain in the holy 
spiritual war, a steward of the mysteries of God, and a true pastor and 
shepherd of souls, and he was treated accordingly. His arrival at the place 
of appointment was eagerly looked for, the family which he entered felt 
itself highly honored thereby. He was entertained, as Paul says te the 
Galatians: “ As an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.” It was considered 
a high honor to entertain the man of God, to feed his horse and cleanse 
his shoes. The house was cleansed on his account before he arrived, rye- 
bread had to give way to the finest wheat-bread, he had to sleep in the 
best bed; yet all this, and much more besides, without going into extrava- 
gance. The Marys would out of love break the alabaster boxes of 
precious ointments upon their heads (figuratively speaking), when these 
ambassadors for Christ stopped with them. 

At that time the preachers could stay only two years on a field of 
labor and not unfrequently the exigencies of the work necessitated an 
annual change ; the conference districts extended over great distances and 
the work was very severe, hence, it was quite uncertain at the close of the 
year whether the preacher and friends would see each other again in this 
life, therefore it became customary to preach farewell sermons on the last 
round on the circuit, similar to the one Paul held at Miletus; usually the 
emotions and utterances were like those at that farewell meeting. But 
when the preacher, at the close of his sermon, declared that he was de- 
termined by the grace of God, in spite of tribulations, hardships and 
adversities, to be faithful until he had finished his course and received the 
crown in the kingdom of glory and proposed to the audience, that each one 
who would meet him there should lift up his right hand, immediately the 
hands would go up, floods of tears burst forth, and deeply moved souls 
would give vent to their feelings, while they felt as if their heartstrings 
would be torn asunder. Sometimes the emotions would utter themselves 
also in shouts of praise at the prospect of a happy re-union in the better 
world, 


452 HISTORY OF THE [1850- 


The chief comfort amidst these painful feelings was the deeply rooted 
conviction that God in His overruling providence would through the 
Conference again send the right man for the work, and for this the mem- 
bers hoped and looked in all seriousness in their secret and public prayers, 
steadfastly believing that the work was the Lord’s, and the preachers His 
servants, who were under His guidance. And who would venture to deny 
that such a mind, such faith, such prayer and expectation, with a corre- 
sponding practice, exist where the Lord Jesus Christ Himself governs the 
Church ? 

It will be quite interesting to the reader to see several extracts from 
a letter written by Father John J. Kopp, descriptive of some features of 
the work in his time. Bro. Kopp entered the ranks of the itinerant minis- 
try in 1832, and was during many years a courageous pioneer, a faithful 
and successful co-laborer in the work. He describes the manner of 
working, etc., during the last described period, by saying : 

“We preachers endeavored to become very useful to our hearers for 
their salvation, therefore we studied our texts and prayed much in secret 
for divine help. We also practiced fasting and abstinence. At first we 
fasted every Friday, later on every quarter, namely on the Friday before 
Quarterly Meeting, and fasting was also enjoined upon the members. When 
the friends gathered for worship, they came in a prayerful spirit and de- 
votional frame of mind, and in the meeting they did not look about 
much ; they collected their thoughts and gave attention to the Word of 
God The preachers declared the whole counsel of God, sinners were called 
to repentance and Christians were urged to practice earnestness, honesty 
and faithfulness in the service of the Lord. The foolish fashions of a vain 
world, especially in the matter of dress, were not softly dealt with, but 
cleanliness and propriety were enjoined by precept and example. 

“The young people did not stay in the background in the meetings 
either, they took positions in front, singing and praying most heartily. 
We always strove for ‘victory’ in preaching. An old preacher told me 
once that at a certain time he did not get help in secret prayer—as it 
seemed to him—and when he arose before the assembled congregation to 
commence his sermon he thought he must now be put to shame, but then 
the answer to his secret prayers came in a public manner, so that both he 
and the congregation were richly blessed. When in those years a preacher 
lacked unction in preaching, some one would pull at his coat as a token 
that he should give way to some other one. And in all things we were 
concerned that all the glory should be given to God. 

“In making pastoral visits we questioned old and young as to the 
conditions of their souls, and especially professors as to how they were 
progressing spiritually ; thereat the Lord frequently opened the hearts of 
the people, and when we then closed our interviews with prayer, great 
good was the result. We always delighted to converse with the old mem- 


1850. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION, 453 


bers about the primitive times of the Church who could relate many 
interesting historical facts of what the Lord had done for them years ago. 
Once I and Bro. Henry Niebel abode over night with Father Dreisbach, 
when he showed us a paper, upon which stood a list of their appointments 
in olden times, and while he was reading the names Niebel said, ‘That 
one is dead, and this one is dead—oh, how short is our allotted lifetime.’ 
This was a solemn interview.” 

Another remarkable feature of the spiritual and ecclesiastical life from 
the beginning was the strong conviction that the office of the ministry was 
conditioned upon a personal, direct and clear divine call, and that this call 
pre-supposed that the respective person be a truly saved one, and was 
under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The divine prerogative to call men 
into the great harvest was fully recognized, in accordance with Isaiah 41, 
27: “I will give unto Jerusalem one that bringeth good tidings,” and Acts 
20, 28, where Paul said to the elders at Ephesus, that “the Holy Ghost 
hath made you overseers, to feed the Church of God.” 

They remembered the example of Mr. Albright, in whose case the 
divine call was the moving force, and that in this respect the Evangelical 
Association was founded upon this important truth. And as a matter of 
fact the fathers in the ministry, such as George Miller, John Dreisbach, 
John Seybert regarded it as absolutely essential to be assured of this 
divine call. All of the Evangelical fathers held fast to this cardinal point. 
This subject was frequently dwelt upon in preaching, and it was insisted 
upon that God would by the light of His Spirit, reveal to the men whom 
He had chosen the fact of such choice whilst they were walking in the light 
and followed Him faithfully, He would incline their hearts toward this work, 
and induce a willingness to bear all the crosses and trials that might be 
connected with it, especially in those trying times. A fervent love for souls 
would also accompany this call, so that one could say with Paul: “The 
love of Christ constraineth us” (2 Cor. 5, 14); and these inward movings 
would manifest themselves more or less in their conduct and efforts in 
divine worship, such as prayers, confessions, exhortations, etc., evincing an 
unusual degree of humility, fervency and unction. Thus the Church 
would, while walking in the light, become impressed mediately and im- 
mediately that the Lord was calling such an one into His vineyard, and 
would be moved to do her part in sending him forth into the work. At 
the same time they would earnestly deprecate the running of one’s own ac- 
cord without having been sent, thus seeking the office instead of souls, and 
the official honors instead of “the crown of glory that fadeth not away,” 
and would earnestly protest against all selfish and fanatical striving for the 
possession of this important and sacred office. 

The idea that a man might for himself select this holy office, as he 
makes choice of a trade or profession, or that others, for instance, his 
parents or friends, could designate him to be a preacher of the Gospel, 


454. HISTORY OF THE [1850- 


was utterly foreign to their minds. Just as strange was the thought 
that natural eloquence, gracefulness, or learning were sufficient to indicate 
the divine call. And the sophistical sentiment, because the father was a 
preacher his son aught to be one too, found no favor in the old Evangelical 
times. With Paul they held that this office was a divine calling, that the 
message to be delivered was “the testimony of God” and the preacher a 
‘co-worker with God,’ and thus the whole of 1t was the work of God. 
Thus the minister of the Gospel appeared to them indeed “a servant of 
the Lord Jesus Christ’’ and not of man, and hence he was privileged to 
stand forth in the name of his Divine Master and proclaim the whole 
counsel of God without respect of persons. To such the Word of Christ 
was applicable: ‘“ But he that entereth by the door is the shepard of the 
sheep, to him the porter openeth, and the sheep hear his voice.” But 
to such as would “run” of their own accord, or were called by men only, 
they applied the word of the Lord: “He that entereth not by the door 
into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and 
a robber.” (John 10, 1.) Who can deny that those spiritual thieves 
and murderers and ravenous wolves in sheep’s clothing, who have brought 
false doctrines, worldliness and depravity into the Church, always were 
such as ran without being sent by the Lord ? 

Another noble characteristic of the work must not be overlooked. 
As we have seen from the foregoing pages the Lord commenced this blessed 
work through the instrumentality of German Pennsylvanians, among those 
Germans. Until the year 1823, the ministry consisted exclusively of 
German Pennsylvanians excepting of a few who were of English descent. 
The Pennsylvanians generally, although being radically German them- 
selves, cherished a strong antipathy against the European Germans; they 
had become so thoroughly Americanized that they designated an European 
immigrant somewhat contemptuously as a ‘“ German,” even as a “green 
German.” And with not a few this antipathy had been developed into 
disgust and hatred, because in those early years it was still remembered 
that Hessians, Anspachians, Baireuthians, etc., fought in the Revolutionary 
War in the ranks of the British against Washington and his patriotic 
army, in which were also German regiments from eastern Pennsyl- 
vania, struggling for liberty. But the work of conversion was so deep 
and radical as to dispel these clannish feelings from the hearts of the 
converted. Thus when in 1823 John C. Reisner, and somewhat later 
on John G. Zinser, John J. Kopp, Christian Hummel, Jacob Vogel- 
bach, Frederick Krecker, Michael His, William Miinz, John M. Sindlinger, 
Christian Holl, Philip Schwilly, William Schmidt, Henry Stetzel, Christian 
Meyers, John J. Escher and many other Europeans until the year 1850, 
entered into the ranks of the ministry, there was no manifestation of this 
prejudice known or seen among preachers and members, nor did any 
factional feeling prevail against the American brethren, The preachers 


1850. ] EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 455 


esteemed themselves mutually as servants of the Lord Jesus Christ. The 
heavenly call to the ministry and the divine blessing upon the labors of the 
brethren were considered paramount and. decisive in this matter, The 
offices of the Church were accessible to Americans and Europeans alike ; 
when elections took place the controlling question was : ‘“ Who is sufficient 
for these things?” Nor was there any Corinthian party-spirit prevailing 
among the members. <And the Lord of the Church prepared the Associa- 
tion, almost unnoticed by themselves, to co-operate in the future with 
others in saving the hundreds of thousands of fresh immigrants that came 
to our shores since 1825 and pressed into the great West, which was rapid- 
ly opened for settlement. Meanwhile the brethren were also being led into 
the English field, and the call of the Evangelical Association began by the 
leadings of Providence to assume more of a cosmopolitan character, in ac- 
cordance with the great commission given by the Lord of all: “Go ye 
into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.” Toward the 
close of the last described period, the sending of missionaries into Europe 
and to the heathen was already under earnest contemplation. 

In view of all the foregoing facts the serious lover of the cause of 
God cannot repress the devout wish that the Evangelical Association with 
her splendid organization and well adapted arrangements for the prosecu- 
tion of the work, which now form an almost perfect machinery, might 
never lose the burning zeal for sound conversions, inward and outward 
holiness, self-denial, separation from worldliness and all its “pomp and 
vain glory’ — as was promised in baptism and frequently afterward—con- 
scientions administration of discipline and dread of lukewarmness and 
apostasy, that permeated and governed the connection in its primitive 
periods, but grow more intense and all-pervading ! 

This depends chiefly upon the ministry. Bishop Seybert frequently 
expressed this great truth in the following words: “So long as our ministry 
is right, lives right, preaches right, and rightly applies discipline, so long 
the Association will remain right; for with the ministry the Church will 
stand or fall,” 


Addenda. 





I. 

The report of the signing of names to the proceedings of the General 
Conferences of 1820 and 1826 is omitted in this history, because those 
sessions were held jointly with the sessions of the Annual Conference of 
those years. The original Conference record does not distinguish between 
the transactions of the Annual and General Conferences, and we have no 
means of ascertaining positively in every case who was entitled to sit in 
General Conference and sign her proceedings, nor whether they were 
signed separately from those of the Annual Conference. 


Di 
The careful reader may notice that this English edition of the Evan- 
gelical history is not an exact translation from the German. It was found 
that some of the foot-notes in the German volume could quite properly be 
incorporated into the text-matter of this work. So also has the appendix 
(“ Nachtraegliches”’) in the German largely been wrought into the text of 
this volume, which had been impossible in the German because then 
most of the respective items came to hand only when the electrotype plates 
had already been made. 
ti Bab 
The histories of the work in Canada, the Publishing House, Der 
Christliche Botschafter and the Evangelical Messenger have been extended 
beyond 1850, even up to the present time, because they could not well be 
divided, and the reader will be pleased thus to obtain a comprehensive 
view of these separate parts of the work. 


— 457 — 


Alphabetical Index. 


A. 


Abbott, Rev. sia ey 
Adams, John.. ‘ 
“Adler, Readinger” See aa ecw he x be 
“Age of Reason ’’— Tom Paine’s. 
Albright, POLI Ge eee oe eles 
Albright, Jacob and Ludwig....... 
Albright, EV eS ACOD es ce cutnls Oxiee 
Founder of the Ev. Association. . 


TION Nok Ose ele Soin cere oes eels 17 


instructed in Catechism......... 
PIALIIOS, CLC OL. ban ale'e's gc ols sins's 
OT OdGLILCD cock emcee ee stele omaiy oe 
moves to Lancaster Co., Pa...... 
his Repentance.............eee. 
meets with Rev. Adam Riegel. . 
REGITVORSLOM Gach cette Soe a owen s 
Joins the M. E. Church......... 
Motive for doing SO.......++.+0.. 
PAOINIBUG- TUR OOLLOL reales + sa vee 6 
rays for his ‘German Brethren” 
is divinely called etc............. 
hesitates—is being chastised..... 
goes forth as Preacher and Or- 
CS Sa a gS ar a a al Se 
first Trip to the Schwenkfelders.. 
travels at large before 1800...... 
ceases his Membership in M. E. 
CPU EGR rae cantare Wipe cata’ 6 9 
meeting with four Brethren 
forms three Classes...........0. 
obtains a Colaborer............ 
holds first ‘‘ Big Meeting”’....... 
preaches a remarkable Sermon.. 
obtains a second Colaborer ...... 
receives a written Recognition... 
ordained as Minister........... : 
this Ordination defended......... 
MIRMEATCOTOOLMLIOL = > foxes cum ececoas 
preaches at Muehlbach......... 
assists Miller at ‘‘ Big Meetings”’ 
at Martin Dreisbach’s........... 
enters into a written Covenant 
with Walter and Miller........ 
presides at Original Conference. . 
is elected Bishop 
requested to compile a Discipline 
his Handwriting etc............. 
travels with John Dreisbach..... 
holds his Jast Big Meeting....... 
last stationing of Preachers...... 
last Word to Dreisbach 
Blek Retrospect. .0ck<. 3.55 cece 
on his Deathbed — happy and 
heavenly........ Sntate Tialelgiece ta’ eas 
Glorious Departure.........-.+-. 


eee eet ew eee ree @ 


eevee ereeeo eve 


Pages. 
so 40, 41 
eevee " . 8 


unnamed 
a a aL 


Pages. 
Albright, Rev. Jacob—Continued. 
Burial—Tombstone.... ......... 91 
GHarTacteristiess.. con soe ose oe 91-96 
Allentown, Pa., Beginning of Work. 235 
first Class formed............... 236 
firsts Ghurehe puts. cteeege sae eee 279 
A MAKENIN Ge CbC ed tivees ssc Cen, 334 
Altimos, Rev. Solomon,...235, 283, 324 
SA DIAN GRUUCLS a ae obese eo ies 287 
wnties,« Memriche gc aoe ae ka. 21 
A postolical Succession. .58, 59, 64, 65, oF 
Articles of Faith, changed......... 99 
Asbury, Rev. Francis tte diese nia see 35, 36 
Hise iGWH, 6tC., CLC. sete vvesa tae 37 
his Offer to John Dreisbach. . 108 
Attack by Ev. Messenger.......... ..65, 66 
Auxiliary to Miss. Society, etc. .... 302 
B. 

Bachtel, Rev. John....... RASA Mees 21 
Background, Historical............ 1] 
Baltimore, Md., first Mission....... 312 
“y glorious Progress... .313-314 
Bancroive. LLIstoriali.« wee ces oe etek 24 
Barbers Revs Jacob peace veces os coee 160 
elected Presiding Elder......... . 160 
President of Conference......... 183 
Member of Gen. Conference 1835. 242 
Ue 1839. 293 
ds . oy 1847. 390 
Bavarians s..- <2. ener ce oie eres ia 
ECR OLT A Vere tes octet Pp RRS a Ae 17 
Becker, George....... eee kine Tene 75 
Becker Fredericks wane e'ee cates 76 
BeecKera bamuel cccw. wes Os coe: ae 76, 83 
Benton, Col. Thos. E., Speech...... 177 
Ber eheimer, Ray iWin ce 25 
IBBISCU Se VWilllob os 2 s'sic ale siv'ecain' seas 359, 393 
Bechishermie se veo a eee es 25 

Betz, Rev. Matthew, enters the Min- 
istry.. 96 
his Success on the New Circuit. . 106 
Seybert’s Spiritual Father....... 103 
V OF Vs DUCCESBL UL 2 secaiue'nte chatieivig ales 119 
ies 1k BNE Ord. o4 scr ausia 4 wise oa 119 
Big Meeting—First and Second..... o4 
Biographies of Albright and Miller. 211 
Bissey, Rey. Chase. occas scvne vce s 151 
Blockhouse, ete. .. PE ae oa hele 
Boas, Rev. Jacob, visits Illinois... 260 
his Report, ete. oo 261 
Missionary in Baltimore, Md..... 312 
BOO: DISNOD UM: si sche ty o.cn'< ald 6 23, 35 
Fellowship with Otterbein....... 36 
Joins the M. E. Church.......... 37 


— 458 


Pages. Pages. 
Boehm, Rev, flenrys+.cawes. sss 37-101 | Buck, Rev. Thomas—Continued. 
Book-Commisson. .134 5135, 145, 157, 482 President Eastern Cont RP, 1833 217 
Borauf, Rev. Frederick...... . 214} locates we AACR eo 225 
Borkert, Rey. Jacob, Miss. in N. Y.. 301 ES aot sqakee te: a 
—e elected again Presiding QP is 

must retletha tinic iar gr Member and Chairman 7th Gen- | 
Miller, ral-Conferenceig.s i. «ss yeas 5 
eTaitore rents yee aA , 439| elected Publishing agent teenie ees 346 
Ettinger resigned and Wm. W. Obituary :% cuts 2.s0 een le 348 

Orwig elected io) dace assigns» 439| Bucks, Rev. Henry................ 309 
Chas. Hammer elected Agent.... 439| Reports on Work............. Sa, 
Salaries of the Editor............ 439| Forms a Class at Liverpool, O.... 279 
Botschafter semi-monthly......... 440 Member of General Conf. 1836.... 252 
Hammer resigns—Thomas Buck, Peman ate he. “ 1839.... 293 

Apert BAL). sates inwelin ins ater = cane 440 1843.. . 267 
Thos. Buck dies. ve ceccwcee. 440| Buckwalter, Abraham.....:.....:. 57 
Orwig again Agent...........06. 449| Business Rules of Conference....... 105 
Orwi ig retires WRAR Ree te eel eS 440 Butz, John ea aheal eters sete ee ee cess cease 207 
Adam Ettinger again elected Edi- Buftalo, N. Y., Beginning and Pro- 

TIES eet ince MAL EERE EE 440 gress of Work.........++-++-+- 262 
Rey. J. C. Reisner elected Agent. 440 Watchmeeting.. 0 sic 0c cdeeke + seee 264 
Rev. Nicholas Gehr elected Editor 440 C 
Rey. Henry Fisher elected Agent 440}. : 

Gehr resigns — Rev. J. G. Zinser, Campmeetings—The first.......... 106 

GIGOP OM A cus ected ss nae rts 440} “the VSECONC we wis ac cule hele eee 107 
Zinser declines the Appointment. 440 Origin Of 4 Sit ac dt. ae 107 
W. W. Orwig again elected Editor 440 at Philip Breidenstein’s.......... 112 . 
Botschafter enlarged and new Dreisbach held four.............. 120 

Sg ec BNE baptist AK SR NATE or 440; what Orwig says about such 
1851 Orwig again elected Editor.. 441 Meetings: 2. ccs <2. souieae mae 120 
Rev. Chas. G. Koch, elected Edi- Examples how Campmeetings 

PON ATRG salanest ates seen oe 441 werd’ COndUCTEd [i500 . tsa seme 123 
Botschafter removed from New six Campmeetings in.1815....... 127 

Berlin, Pa., to Cleveland, O..... 441] One on the Land of John Adam 
Payment in Advance adopted... 441 Hening sp.s be FR nad 5 146 
C. G. Koch reelected............ 441| Ernst’s Campmeeting............ 172 
Wm. W. Orwig elected Editor 442} victorious at J. A. Hening’ ca oe 183 

ROM IDG tins acai has eels 442! victorious at Hegerman’s, Wayne 
Rev. Rudolph Dubs elected Editor 442 Co: Ohig ie vasa seca one 187 
Paper much enlarged............ 442} victorious at Orwigsburg, Pa..... 211 
Rev. Martin Lauer elected Editor how Bro. Zinser traveled to Camp- 

ASTONE RAS Citrate eee a swa ete 442 IMCSUINOS. [oe oe oe el 233 
Rev. Wm. Horn elected Editor Campmeeting at Selinsgrove, Pa,. 243 

ROT Orcs ie ne Contes edie water 442) a Remarkable one at Mertz’s 1836 245 
Paper again enlarged...... “atic 442} crowned with Success in 1837.... 257 
Jubilee Issue 1886s, AT. 442| blessed Campmeetings....... /274-276 
Development of List of Subscrib- “ Peo kit Sy ogra ateeyne ea 279 

BTS Os ca vas viet a iets cee 449 = BMP eA, Sheds aes 297 

Breaking the Ice...............-.. 118 4 PR a ey Rr ie = 303 
Breaking sGyrOund 2205.0 c- «sw sare ce 118 ne se amgemny P Fe ey <> 309 
Breidenstein, Rev. Philip....... 100, 162 uf tte iat: pean aide eee 316 
Breidenstein, John............. 149, 164} remarkable Occurrence at C..... 317 
Brights JONU. wswiedsecttecssss <o 193} several Campmeetings........ 317-318 
Brunnholz, Rey. Peter............. 18} _ first Campmeeting in Indiana... 319 
ProCk: hes LNOWIAS anes cue es eee es 160} blessed Campmeeting on Canton 
enters: Itinerancy (i200. s<s «ssa 160 Circuit, Ohio; (~ cases sa ete ane 320 
ordained Deacon.............e.- 175| successful Campmeetings..... 332-333 
ordained Elder............ tea 183} first Campmeeting in the West.. 335 
elected Presiding Elder.......... 185| large Campmeeting.............. 344 
President Eastern Conf, SASH 1829 188} greatly blessed Campmeeting on 
APC 1830 190 YOrk Circuit voi. 10. «4 ieee 
ss Re cout Career 1831 202} remarkable Campmeeting........ 378 
-* oe sh Ae 1832°210] "very ‘Successtul 5.7... seman 379 


— 459 — 


Pages. 
Campmeetings—Continued, 

‘“‘Campmeeting Spirit”........... 383 
35 Campmeetings announced. . . 383 
36 sees 38D 
35 announced—more held........ 394 
Canada—Introduction of Work.... 408 
Bro. Jacob Focht goes into Canada 410 
entrance of Work into Waterloo... 410 
Bro. Zinser visits Canada......... 410 

Revds. Hammer, Harlacher and 
Dellinger visit Canada......... 410 
Waterloo Mission established.... 411 
first Campmeeting held.......... 411 
Bro. M. Eis begins his Labors..., 411 


Rev. Sauer a good Supporter of 


REL N Ree are oA wit Salen stall 412 
Mr. H. W. Peterson, OE favor- 
WOLD LC. ch tas es ks eels deo Rpns 412 
Mennonite Conversion........ pee 412 
a remarkable Letter............. 413 
Revds. Zinser and Hammer report 414 
Revds. Holl and Eis Report futons 8) 418 
‘Canada Museum” Report of 
BID IUGOUIIE Saas clic cee esis 419 
Rey. Jos. Harlacher eg Mis- 
MOUATH! DADOTSL. det cicld+ ofc 420 
in Waterloo and Berlin.......... 420 
LOTTE ES CVV by aaah Pare Sree 420 
BIERRIIM ATION Nita 22! Gielen wa ecole dials 421 
TE PAESICUGE tole dis is« 6k se ab0 OGa ale 421 
BPR EELOND rei) Hines as a's mene OSS 421 
Blenheim Township.......... ee. 421 
Wilmot Township............... 422 
Wee V lesa Gist oe tke ow eas ai 422 
Woolwich Township............. 422 
PS Cy eRe oe A ee pgs Pye 423 
Puslinch (Moriston)............. 424 
Quarterly Meeting in Berlin..... 424 
Bile F BLOTRUL Rae Se ae istan les vw eee 424 
first Church Dedication ete. ..... 425 
hanging Bro. H, in Effigy......... 426 
territorial Outlook............... 426 
great Revival at ‘‘Twenty”’...... 428 


first Presiding Elder District 1847. 430 
excellent Prospects for the Future 430 
22 


Canajoharie Valley................ 
Callender, Rev. N., Fraternal Dele- 
pate 5 3 Pier Bo Ey A ene here 361 
REE TOUI Me iue, S's. < shicd. oc aiwio'w sien? 138 
EEO SS 5 Ag a i 20 
Center of Church Activity........ » 162 
Certificates to moving Members.... 252 
Change of time and place for Gen. 
Conference in 1843....... wee. 00-004 
CHeritanles Fund =) 2, os... 5 eacin ns os Zi) 
Charitable Society founded ........ 239 
Chicago—Beginning of Work....... 321 
first Church built there.......... 373 
Church, Conditions etc., etc........ i 
Church Discipline ordered......... 85 
MYBEPAIIAON oes oie osm cd. slens Seats Sia 101 
second Edition......ccscccccesse 140 


third Edition eeoeeneee @c4eeceeeeoe & 198 





Pages. 
Church, first one in Ey. Association 144 
Church, first one west of Ohio...... 282 
Churches, Style of first ones........ 336 
GISSIOROR c Fo Nia tole on eas eee 52 
Ciasa-meetingsiieees. oe Se 388 
Classes—first three................ §2 
Clay, Hon. Henry—Speech......... 177 
Cleveland—Beginning of Work..... 319 
Coetus (Reformed)................. 19 
Colonies—almost ruined........... 24 
Colossal Movement, etc. .........- ibe 
CASTICOML ALP Chirata ea pO Ae ee icles 12 
Conference—Name adopted........ 84 
Conference—English............... 393 
Conference—three new ones....288, 293 


Conference—Local Preachers created 238 


Conference, Original—organized.. 83 
first Session 83 

a s¢ second 100 
6é ¢é third cc 104 
ss *- fourth 4s lil 
phe Se iitn My 114 
M2 “sixth se 117 
sae ‘* seventh f 119 
ss “eighth fe 126 
se “ ninth es 134 
“ “ tenth as 145 
af “eleventh a 146 
ite “twelfth a 150 
s¢ thirteenth . “ 152 
ae ‘¢ fourteenth ‘° 155 
66 fifteenth 66 158 
* “sixteenth ie 160 
ee “ seventeenth “ 171 
hs “ eighteenth ‘“ 175 
ss “ nineteenth ‘ 180 
Conference, Eastern—established.. kOe 
first Session 182 

- i second : 184 
ae oe third Be 188 
s€ *t fourth « 194 
“6 Ke fifth 4 202 
Mi “6 sixth os 210 
se =. seventh ‘* yAL 
&6 Me eighth fe 225 
ae se ninth - 231 
a ci tenth ay 253 
; ‘ eleventh ‘“ 267 
4: as twelfth ef 293 
Conference, Western—formed Seearats 179 
first Session 182 

sf = second 184 
ee -- third Le 188 
4. vf fourth be 194 
es xh fifth ae 202 
Ac ae sixth 210 
5 a seventh * 217 
- ve eighth oe 225 
“6 - ninth ot: 231 
ee “ tenth 2 253 
- a eleventh “ 267 
= twelfth : 293 


— 460 — 


Pages. Pages. 
Conferenee, East Pa.—established.. 288} Dayton, Ohio, Beginning of Work.. 319 
first Session 308| Decline of the Work.............+. 161 
4 4 second s 3:5, Delegates to first Gen. Conf......... 135 
4 ‘ third td 340 | Delegation from M. E. Church...... 361 
A ; fourth 4 370 | Delegates from Western to Eastern 
66 ty fifth ss 3751. Conferenc@.. 5. oy.6 eo aeeae 200 
=" ae sixth pe 380! Delegate System, etc............... 286 
ty 4 seventh ‘* 382]! Deppen, Rev. Isaac.. : 173 
‘¢ s eighth “ -- 384.| Devil, measured off a Tract, ObCe een EES 
se ee ninth or 391 | ‘‘ Die ’Geistliche Viole? scene ber 176 
7 “<> ) (tenth : 393 | Discipline (English)—first one..... 211 
Conference, West Pa.—established. 288) Distilleries—many............. Pep ee 3, 
first Session 308 | Districts—Biblical Names of....... 126 
# second 325 | Document—important one....... 56, 57 
=. Rs third a 3.40 | Dreisbach, Martin ............ erettes 
sf iy fourth sf 370 Dreisbach, Revi John. jnsvak be ee eee 83 
7 fifth bY 375 local Preacher i in his 17th Year.. 83 
‘ Re sixth oe 380 itinerant—on Probation..... oy eee 
“ oe seventh ‘* 382 success on Northumberland Cire. 97 
Hi “eighth « —s« 384} ~= fearful Attack upon him......... 98 
es a ninth u 391 victorious in Court... ......cce60- 99 
ck a tenth 42 393 Secretary of second Conference... 100 
Conference, Ohio—established. be sek soo translates a Catechism into Ger- 
first Session 308 Maier teereeers Oe eee 102 
oe ne second a 326 is ordained Elder....... wie okiee 104 
AS OC yt 340 he and Bishop ee tan a 
H ss fourth MY 370 Conversation.. : . 108 
* s fifth s 375 a great Trial ts 2s soe eee 117 
a fe sixth “hd 380 Secretary of sixth Conference.... 117 
* # seventh ‘“ 382 ‘broke the Ice”’ in Somerset Co., 
” ri eighth es 384 Passi cic cuales be Oe ee eee 118 
sh a. ninth 4) 391 visits the Eastern Part of Conf... 118 
- i tenth 4 393 Chairman of second Conference.. 119 
Conference, General—tirst Session 138; elected Presiding Elder, first one 119 
second : 152 holds Campmeetings, etc., ete. 123-125 
es <*> third iM 178| visits Philadelphia repeatedly... 128 
a ns fourth Hd 198 Chairman of ninth Conference 134 
se = fifth * 237 ss of eleventh ‘3 146 
pp sixth . 248 a of twelfth de 150 
< a seventh ‘ 285 of thirteenth <s 152 
i ty eighth na! 352 |) *t locates... is. enadee ee eae ‘Nealon 
és 4s ninth “4 385 Member of Book Commission.... 185 
Conference, Illinois—established., . . 361 elected Book-Agent..........2..-. 152 
first Session 380 Member of first General Conf, 135 
“e . second $f 383 A of fourth < 198 
. fs third A 385 of of eighth as 6, S60 
if Be fourth tg 391 ae of ninth $s o. 2300 
i roe iy ALLO 394| Impressions received at 8th Gen. 
Conterence, New ive copsce busned 391 Conference: 2.is.2bs Steno cae 368 
fy first Session... 393] proposes the establishing of a 
Congregation of God in the Spirit... 21 Seminary Lf duced a Sie e eee dooce 
Cone gress, Supplied Strong Drink.. 21 preaches i in Allentown, Pa....... 235 
Contribution—subsidiary APES 83 appointed Church Historian..... 357 
Constitution for Gen. Conf. Scope 292| appointed Delegate to Evangelical 
eee Catharine (Mrs. Albright).. 38 Alhiance::3 +) oi Seesnweees peuen 383 
Council DLBQUIN OL RUS at gre aatan see 56| Dressel, Rev. Ceorge.......-- Tene 806 
Vs List of Members...... ogee) 66) Dunkel, John. ’.0. v0 2a aawhew celts ane 
rs Docamenty vse s45 os aiee teu 
Covenant—a written one....... Rate kev E. 
D Ebinger, Rev. Christian......... ... 335 
‘ Eby, Henry s.r. 426 ce ee .. 104 
MIAVIRS, ISRAG Se cs oo wee eee seccee 42} Educational Society... 22.4 saeusee 382 


Days of Fasting and Prayer...... 


.- 382 | Education and higher Schools....... 338 


Abe 


Pages. 
Education—renewed Discussions... 381 
iM another Controversy... 385 
unfavorable Vote concerning Sem- 
LGU Varn atvis a nh tees. cea ee at oF Sim 0 392 
Einsel, he DEP he SRE tre a oo ciate 0 Get 304 
Kis, Rev. Michael, Miss. in N. Y. 
Citys... eee eee eee eee cece eens 330 
TPAD ATAS cecasok ore oie eid Boe eae 416 
English Conferences............... 388 
Erb, Rev. John—converted........ 88 
enters the DING View ct eo eee 96 
Zeal in Catechetical Instruction.. 102 
successful on New Circuit........ 106 
writes to John Walter........... 112 
locates on Account of poor Health 117 
re-enters Itinerancy............ . 153 
elected Presiding Elder.......... 153 
Chairman 14th Conf. Session..... 155 
fs 16th 160 
MOE ALCHIAO AILERON ei e's Srhictcins oo ois 160 
Member of first General Cont.. aR 
‘* of ninth rs 390 
Panyeravion 60 .Ohi0 sos s « debe cles 6's 138 
Episcopal Form of Government.... 85 
Episcopal Plan of Government..... 129 
PeCHOLe OY. J OOD) Ai ogilie s cis do's 303 
Esslinger, Rey. John, first Class- 
PABGGEROUCE Neneh Te cesincsls co oe ee. 314 
POULIN Ors PeV. AGN... 2's so ccs 0 112 
received into Itinerancy......... 134 
DRaI UOC VOACOD sacle. accent ee: © 145 
Member of first General Conf.... 135 


Member of first Book Commission 135 
first Editor of Chr. Botschafter.... 241 
glowing Report from his District. 341 


Member of eighth General Conf.. 367 
Ettinger, Rev. Benjamin. ..112, 184, 284 
Ettinger, Rev. Jacob.............. 112 


Evangelical Association, its rise, ete. 1 
sé 


“declared to be no Church 58, 59 
139 


PN ame AAOPted ©... n.8s 3% 
‘* History to be compiled... "987 
Evangelical Landmark PART seer tats 105 
Peas ae ol eee 125 
Evangelical Preachers unlearned... 122 

F. 

Failure of Mission in State of N. Y.. 116 
Families, first ones in Ohio........ 137 
ee CHRLU CLO... Ss svc soc tenes 14 
Fecunditv of Teutonic Race........ iy’ 
Wiseher, Reve tlenvy !.2)..22...-.<. 181 
Class-leader, Beets oie Sins aseia' a's » 181 
entered Itinerancy Pee Nts Sao ve 203 
locates on account of ill Health.. 210 
ordained Deacon...........+.+.: 231 
enters Itinerancy again......... . 232 
Member of eighth General Conf.. 367 

remarkable Victory at a Camp- 
Po SUT ele. a a eg a ean 378 
Member of ninth General Conf... 389 
elected Publishing Agent........ 388 


Pages. 
Hievcher a ANpeOal “scaeenss ved ee 242 
HOcHU bevy Waniolir., access 163, 380 
Fort Wayne DMEYESIOU ce cies oe oe ee nccerne 331 
Dranklin Den amines . os Vaden 28 
Perch eta. c iy Geiis eo wee shoes nia 14 
Brenciv Athens <. jo. denis oe. oak 21 
‘* Friedensbote, Allentown’’....... 31 
PLIOIE RAT cio tet ay tein ate oes & wee 12 
eshalond, God-is my?" 6tG.. oS. ies os 74, 75 
Frey, Rev. A DanBiien, vel wecss oe e's 352 
ITOUCH erty c Cetra oat asec et ec oct 31 
Ce 
GBDEL CHTADCISU sakes ces eeed aes 204. 
COOMaG. co aie oe cece ela oe cis viv cies oft 14 
Gehr, Rev. Nicholas, Editor Chr. 
Botschafter Da ea a fain ies at 388 
(ZEN EOTORIDUA ta /secmenirete s 4s te ogee 392 
Gen. Conference Transactions, etc.. 138 


1816—promoting the Interests of 
the newly started Publishing 


House ates acuta teers: 138 
proposed Union with U. B. in 
GHrIsta Lees eben kit ater oan £138 
Sol. Miller elected Book-Agent. 139 
German Hymn-book adopted.. 139 
second Edition of Discipline ap- 
DIOVOG Wii.es satine ects Me are etebiet c 139 
Adoption of the name Ev. 
Association... « oo 
1826—Local Preven Contevance 
created. . 178 
Formation of the Western Conf. 178 
Parsonages to be built......... 179 


1830—revision of Articles of Faith 
Committees to publish Ger- 
man and English Discipline. . 
Limitations of Episcopacy...... 
1835—3 Circuits added to Western 


ConierenCe sa... ote eee ees 237 
Time for Sessions of Annual 
Conferences changed........ 238 
German S. Schools ordered..... 238 
founding of Charitable Society. 239 
Preachers Salary changed...... 240 
Christliche Botschafter founded.. 240 
several Books ordered, etc..... 242 
1836—second Publishing House 
LONNCEH at Reise ss tee ree 248 
1839—Seybert elected Bishop.... 285 
changes of Discipline.......... 286 


Sunday-school Books ordered.. 
History of Ev. Association to be 
COP Lled sees ase ureats a teas 
three new Annual Conf. created 
Constitution for General Conf. 
adopted 
18483—Annual Conferences to be 
independent of each other... 35 
Salaries: raised: vs. us ost e te 35 
More attention to the English 
toa hbeserveniiccesss vats 


6 2.6. US 6 a O08, 6. OBR SC. 616 6 €: 0 


— 462 — 


Pages. 
Gen. Conf. Transactions—Continued. 
1843— adopts a Plan of Study for 
young Preachers..... cemane 352 
Declaration concerning Erud- 
ition 356 
orders a Catechism to be com- 
piled 
new Edition of Miller’s Practi- 
cal Christianity in German 


eeereoroveooceeoeeeeveocrtee Oooe 


eceoeereseesreoceeeoce Geet eee 


OFGEPEM «whe Vagal ds cures cease 8 
Evangelical Hymn-book (Ger- 
Man, VOTdGrolincc. paws ssn oe oa 358 


elects Adam Ettinger Editor 


and J. C. Reisner General 
ADORE tag secs thee = oe aire 359 
elects two Bishops: John Sey- 
bert and Jos. Long.......... 359 
fraternal Delegation sake M. E. 
Church received..........s0+ 361 
their Address. . 361 


Reply of General Conference... 363 
Remarks in ‘Chr. Advocate ” 
and Botschafter concerning it. 365 
what Dr. Nast said about it.... 367 
Impressions of Father Dreis- 
DAC CLG. eats oe ae et ae sem wee 368 
1847—Itinerant Probationers not 
tO MALTY... eee eee eee cece 386 
concerning higher Salaries..... 386 
a Seminary proposed.......... 387 
the Publication of Hv. Messenger 
ordered; oto .c0 eee ss ere ee 387 
Salaries of Editors and ae 387 
Concerning Class-meetings.... 388 
against Secret Societies........ 389 
German Immigrants.............. 12 
German, Empire... .. 2... s.sese008 wate bs, 
Germans in Washington’s Army... 24 
Germans emigrate from N. Y. to Pa, 13 
Germans, Host of..... eet sd acae gah a 
German Pennsylvanians........... 
German Pocket Bible..... eat 337, 248 
German Settlements.........00- 
Germantown. .....ceseceee 12, i 
Crerman- Cina kers soc. en baa ceceee ee 
ATGUR ROW POLAE ss'and pees aa Sate ak oie c 980 
CcOveINOT IDOMAR La ss voice eee ld 
C7TUDSY, SOUNGIA Saivec cece abt caeminmennee L 
CATUDOY. HEVi sACOD Leics tes acmewacsee? 
FeLLOLING f.0< ou’ ae PEs don C4) 
in 
Palla hosg 477 sl eagetty ol AReabios o eieiee ees | 
Hamilton, Rev. John '—Seceder. . . 208 
his Constitution............ SN 
PSmMmery Rev.) OONGsiasesec as asee Lud 
CONVETLE tec ca al Vewey peteaeee 168 
ASOILMATY. Uh awe nk ct as Semteten ee 307 
Hammer, John, jr., converted..... 168 
Hammer, Rey. Charles............ 194 
enters Afinerancy <. 20v is fein aw ates 194 


intimate with his Colleague..... 
sent to Western Conference, 


197 
212 


~I 


Ty & o 
et ERAS EEC aE Ea Ri ln a I gia toll a acts lt OSA iNS Dp aR ES Sort ata SNE 


Hammer, Rev. Charles—Continued. 
his Reminiscences, etc........ 212-216 


Secretary Western Conference... 231 
Member of fifth General Conf. ... 242 
Member of sixth General Conf... 252 
Secretary thereof............ sve pe 
elected Presiding Elder.......... 252 
Manager of Miss. Society.........- 272 
Member of seventh General Conf, 293 
Sec. of West Pa. Conf. Miss. Soc.. 295 
serves in Baltimore..... .......- 344 
Member of eighth General Conf,. 367 
Assistant Secretary of same. 354 
Member of ninth General Conf. . . 889 
Handschuh, Rey. John F. ae 18 
Harbaugh’ 8“ Harfe’.... s+ escece 30 
Harlacher, Rev. Jos. .....0.. BAS 262 
Buffalo City Missionary........-+ 262 
departs from Buffalo............ 265 
labors in Canada..... PEt eies 420, 426 
Hantz; Rev: Anton ss <yece asian 35, 62 
Heck, - Darvara..: 50s. eee aren 37 
Heim, Rey.: W Di. ". «ous Six en pan creel 301 
Helfenstein, Rev. J.C. A.. 25-28 
Helmuth, Rev Rav eh ie ake eae ee 22-24 
Hendel, hey oh ee ee 35 
Hennig Adami iis eas conn 118, 186, 214 
Hessignsk coc. .vecm Coaee PPE en tod 28 
Hesser, Rev. Chas. ........ ELD Seah 231 
ordained Elder : .s cs< « mses ae! | 
preaches at Allentown, Pa. ...... 236 
labors successfully in Phila...... 255 
Successor to Rev. J. Vogelbach... 316 

Plan for building Churches in 
large Cities... .100s20-2+ bene ems 330 
again successful in Phila....... 330 
dies on way to General Conf. 1843 354 
ODIGUSLY . c'c5'0 as Diaasle es eee 374 
High Church Spectacles....... eaaaia eee 
Hittel | Job crac cos eae eee eee 189 
Hoffman, Rev. Francis—Class-leader 167 
enters Itinerancy oak at A 
ordained Deacon......-.ees2se-- 185 
located . 2.) sacties sue oath acai iS epee 
re-entered Itinerancy. 211 
forms first Class at A lentown, Pa. 236 
Member of fifth General Coni.. . 242 
= of sixth ‘ ~. 202 
- of seventh ‘ ‘6 oe 
a ofeighth ‘“ (he 
a ofninth * em 
Holy Ground. .2.<.snese oa e's sit a 
Huguenot Refugees. ve es Rae 
Hummel, Rev. hristian....-...... 2 
Report of Mohawk Mission...... 298 
Hymn-book, Walter’s......... iain ee 
Hymn-book, Germansit... os anaaae 141 
¢” Semallery. ae 217 
ss ‘6° “English s.s.c: as sia\0 cee 

I. 

Immigration into Pennsylvania.... 11 
Indians. ois'sssn% MY Pee ne 12, 13 


? 


— 463 — 


Pages. 

Infidelity—English and Freneh.. 

Tllinois—first Ev. Preacher entered. 257 
Emigration from Warren, Pa., to 


MINiOINsas s GUase Oe erate te 258 
rat, Gla@sseS) OC. unis ola es os 258 
visited by Rev. Jacob Boas....... 260 
first Quarterly Conference....... 260 
visited by Rev. M. Hauert....... 281 
Progress of the Work...........- 282 
Trial of the Work.............- 304 
BIVPIECE NL ISSION.. oo 6 ave has sere s u's 311 
Brags lONRiION. 2. <br 5s vases ee 331 
Success at Desplaines...........- 334 
Annual Conference formed...... 361 

Je 
Teiersoughideas es west toe os via: 9637 
J ohnson—Sail-ship ir ee UAE TE 15 
12%. 
PALI OLOr favs acts se aces cade. s 13 
Keil, Rev. Simon—Obituary........ 340 
Kimmel, RCO mai ALLY. 9.5 'ca.ne's 211 
Kleinfelter, Rev. OUR ace iler vere 77 
Memorandum Concerning Alb- 
TOI ieee eet ae seis ns gas es a 88 
Secretary of Conference...... 126, 145 
elected Presiding Elder. ......... 155 
President of 15th Conferene SNAP 158 
+ nh 2d oh t Gh eat Ae ee 160 
me ew halal SAA ts ey Mt 
MLE Sere Ce ca oka as keene 176 
Kleinfelter, Rev. Jacob enters Itine- 

BRON eee eis. con Si pavne's piatviae sce wo 117 
PEC aet ls LIGACO tes 5. 5s 6 sie 49 = 5 126 
TAIT IGLGGE tae cee ae ss oe 6 145 
Secretary of 17th Conference.... 171 
BEE: MENG PUALOs als oe so eee 134 
TUM ee aces os cyt a ae ee © 188 

Kleinfelter, Rev. Adam — enters 
TUES NO ee sone go da t'y'o se 5 a S09 145 
ret invetas Gal 4 Ct G) geet ee aa ease 155 
elected Presiding Elder.......... 160 
he and J os. Long hold a “ Big 
BT CREAT rR, scons 8m boss aise e's 174 
President of 18th Conference..... 175 

_ of Western Conference. 182 


Secretary of Western Conference. 194 
Member of the 8th General Conf. 367 


PRIN EEOC ins ci she sbacne 62 ss 11 
Krecker, Rey. Frederick........ 265, 405 
Kriebel, Rev. George.......ceo.ee: 49 
Kurtz, Dr. Benjamin...... Galg gm ks ad cle 
L. 

TERRELL MLALOUIS ..csiccaccccsesca OT 
Laodicean Clergy........- 9 ear Se 108 
Bo eee ee PLUM IT 2 5. cies c's ooo oo a ve 264 
Lebanon, Ree LIT HG. CLASH cs.<clee 93 6 ac 181 

‘* great Revival........ 256 


Leib, Rey. John P. enters Itineraney 203 
Member of Committee on English 


Pe UMIG eG cites Sais nos vines 
SMIAINIOID SIULCOE, . . wach o0ia's cas ae es 


Pages. 


preaches BRGY ig AC RI ee Oger 205 
preaches with great Clearness, etc. 246 


97 | Leib, Rev. John P.—Continued. 


Member of sixth General Conf, bar diy 

i seventh ‘ 293 

eet eighth ce Set ea OOE 
his Plan ne raise $10,000 for N. Y. 

CLG Mea lateral oh, csc tela Gia baaen are aes 330 
BEIMer nl ules ce ee a ae non iW: 
Peters) Oliands saci ou cetera f re 
‘Liberty People”’.......... 42, 186, 181 
Liberty of Conscience, ete. ........ 252 
Diecsser; Samuel sates yc. ets seen 51 
Liesser, Rev. Abraham........... 55, es 
Tiessern Glace sea eer hoe ers 
Liverpool, Ohio, first Class formed. 079 
Long, Rey. DanrehiNyt ee Gene 302 
LAWIR THe Verd OSG Mews dais cies 2 nlehis oe 158 

OtLers (LINClABGY aa en esc es pees 158 

OTaginen WeAaCOMer sass ave cs seas LT 1 
oy Hider nme sae puke eter 180 

presides at Western Conference... 184 

Presi Neuere cs th nore anhey es 185 

presides at Western Conference... 188 
66 6s 73 194 
i ‘* General 43 198 
ee ‘* Western va 202 
cs “ Western . 210 


blessed Labors as Presiding Elder oF 


presides at Western Conference.. 216 
LOCOLCR Crete he tte tee ee en ale 216 
Member of fifth General Conf. 242 
** seventh ‘* 293 
ig “ eighth ~ cot gy 
elected Bishop SG ieinta ered ee eibants een 359 
his Views on the Office ......... 359 
re-elected Bishop................ 388 
assists in a Resolution against 
Secret Sociebies. o's sinek e225 00s 384 
NGM UCL Vin tree city adage etawieta cae Go Gin 14 
PuthervDr Martins: ss eek so oe 15, 16 
TIT NETANS ES caso Ree ook One aes 16 


Lutheran Church—Reyvival, ete.... 33 
TSENETANISIN Somes eee aan hee eee 
Lutz, Rev. John—Missionary to 
TINO oe caer keane 311 
labors successfully in Illinois. 305-314 


M. 

WIRIZOO REV NE sar ty on alah slay ew eere was 106 
COG TitLar Vive tp mire tectactebitesciene ate Bea 
INEST GIT OE Bese he eee 8 ee aad ie oss 14 

Mannwiller, Rev. D., enters Itiner- 
BAI CVn esate eee dink ola ea alee auneie 171 
preaches at Ernst’s Campmeeting 172 
Ordained UL Veacone ).. lew cs 8 oe ces 180 
OMT AINOM UOElo. ant. crores Gs on 185 
heroic Work on Canton Circuit.. 187 
CICS TUL LOTU etal a cake ede ald Wo 198 
LAT STOLL ferctots sc ebeie eae We EP Oe 14 
LA ILORWOT co's Wigs eka wig Biaicke We otaliare: tv 12 
Meeting of Five Brethren.......... oF 
Mennonites...........-+-. 1A 17, 21, 22 
a AT AIANBOR is ctu oes an 407 


— 464 — 


Pages. 

Mercersburg. ...00 sess ecccccsecees 59 
Mertz, Gen. Henry..........2..2. 204 
Class-leader in Allentown........ 236 
Mertz; David. ice) iineseacicceessste 204 
Messenger, Evangelical.........+00%. 443 
ATR ASSUGC ASOT aie iia miace ee ate 443 
Nicholas Gehr, first Editor....... 443 
Henry Fischer, second Editor.... 443 
William Bersch, Assistant... .... 443 
appears in a new For1.......... 443 
Wimlew. Orwig; Edits 127.7% 2.55 =. 443 
Js Lie Wome bere, SGI OT. y tse <5 = 443 
John Dreisbach, Editor.......... 443 


Theophilus G. Clewell, Editor.... 
Many changes in Form and Price 444 


Pages. 
Milwaukee—Beginning of Work.... 335 


Missionary Society of the Ey. Assoc. 


first’Annual Reporte 7.0... cmaore 310 
Mission Cause introduced.......... 267 
first Miss. Constitution.......... 269 
Formation of Principal Society... 270 
PYOQTORS iii 5e o Wels oa oe ee eee 326 
16 Missions 1846 2 os. 2 eee 383 
financial Methods, etc........... 392 
Mohawk Germans. ....6. 663.0005 13, 297 
Mohawk Indians 2.7.33 s ene ee 1 
Mohawk Mission .2. .. ns. eels ce 297 
Mohawk Valley 2:3. 205 vie cee Loerie 
Moral Heroism of first Members... 102 


IMLOTAVIANS Sse oe ee ee 


16, 20, 21, 22 


Reuben Yeakel, Editor ......... 444 | Muehlbach—Beginning of Work... 75 
Jacob Hartzler, Editor........... 444 | Muehlenberg, Rev. Heinrich M...18, 23 
Henrv B. Hartzler, Editor....... 444 | Mystite oA sot .sae st ccue oot ane 14 
Samuel P. Spreng, Editor........ 444 
changed to Book form........... dt N. 
Statistics of Subscribers.......... 444 N D an 
Meyers, Rev. Christian............ 399| Nast, Dr. William............. 0.0: 361 
Meyer, Rev. Henry.........0.. a... 192}. Fraternal Delegate.............. 361 
Methodisth oir tlonie fest eaves 33, 42, 43 beeps se ceasess weet cere eees seers 20 
Methodist Protestant Church...... 201 | Nevin, Dr. John W.—Statement ete. 33 
Michigan—Beginning of Work..... 283 caricatures Albright 59, 60, 61, 63 
Miesse, Rev. Henry......... .....- 308 Oe Rev. Christian......... 138 
Miller, Rev. Solomon, Member of ‘ New W Hd ppc otey eek ah ee 19 
COGTITIGLLT L503 atte ata ee hetes) due gh Paha 6 | « Niger pegs © ERP E OSE poe ae 14, 16 
Member of first Conference...... Nishel Rev Taued NS ek) aie oe ee ue 
Member of first General Conf.... Converse erarenese tee 97 
ieee Pe BGS Ta FRG ek aire [LOLLY OPSLON ba sate ceme ean ane ee Bie 
aiycus of the Church.......: noe enters Itinerancy..............-- 97 
Miller Bee aie Bees Oh ith Ban “| -cordainéd “Deacon. .20 42. 0p ae 111 
pe aA ee ta Se oae as 59 74 ordained. Elder’ 33 cr i2.)e ee 117 
ibmeny preaches it Refers pee ect Secretary of seventh Conference.. 119 
RRC P EO WARE On "78 President of eighth Conference. . 126 
Member of Council 1803 mera his: ah 78 assis ice tie ey Ween tenr ce lt 28 
becomes an Itinerant Minister... 75 P oranlt Geo. Miller's Funeral 98 
pierre mu Se paerrey: a Secretary of ninth Conference. SIg4 
Success as a Preacher, etc........ 80 Eoeoen : of Ls pu rae és sss 145 
Ordination as Elder voted him... 85 i et t oul & ea 
remarkable Dream.... .....+.-- DO TAT ented We iy Wan 
aa Fi Midna ae a Secretary of thirteenth Conf..... 152 
Chairman of second Conference.. 100 ea laen AO Oe see. 188 
publishes the first Discipline..... LOZ wren heroten een Ski ee 189 
is ordained Ml der. Pico eens « 104 Tae 1 Pr are El eneral Conf.. 198 
publishes Biography of Albright. 105 elected Fresiding Elder again.... 203 
Chairman of fourth Conference... 111 Presid ene of West Bee Conference. oa 
71 “e ae ic ] + M 7 ie . 
a Here eas at ee ator: 114| President of fifth General Conf... 237 
Renae eT CUR any | fee ty 114 denounces Misuse of Tobacco..... 274 
BF aca eaianaon dealt eat ahia: Member of sixth General Conf... 252 
cipline 114 - a sche te > i . 293 
PLING... sas esse cece eee see BP acit ; « 7" 9099 
Chairman of pruacepionenepn ee ig? We Northumberland Circuit....88, 102, 103 
dies in the Lordi sis<sseee0d eee’ 19g | New York City Mission............ 300 
Character, etc., etc. ........2. 128-130 
Miller, George (printer)........... 157 O. 
co-editor of Chr. Botschafter...241, 489 | Old Circuit...........cccccsceccce . 87 
the first Printer of the Church 250, 432 | Old Document, etc...........- eue's he 


— 465 — 


Pages. 

SS VEN HNCAISs. 25 yas cee cokes 444 
how they preached..........-... 444 
BOW MOCLO Saw cove er sees cence fa. 445 
recollections of an Eyewitness... 446 
how their Wives dressed. 446 


how they supported MissionWork 447 


HOW: CHOY SAND 1, vccin deere e = 448 
how they regarded the Lord’s 
BUTPCEis ts vee fel ecink vee se eee ee 449 
how they fasted, etc............. 449 
brotherly Love, etc...........++- 450 


how they regarded the Preachers 451 


Farewell Sermona=) estes aoe: 451 
Divine Call to the Ministry...... 453 
no Clannishness, etc...........-- 454 
the Field becomes Cosmopolitan. 455 
e@OM ISLS rt sus se ec see te 455 
with the Ministry the Church 
GI TIRUOR AAI sas'elste dec ae Pak set 455 
Old Style........ esse ene seen eens 12 


104 


BPE lickin yGUkgee aes cee G ase es 476 66, etc. 
Otterbein, Rev. Ph. W........ 23, 33, 34 
Orwigsburg—Beginning of Work... 161 

TC eer es sed watts Pace cee 166 

Re AUC Cetra coh Ss lace ek oa 167 

TURE TOACIIOTS 0 oo ie vies ere neie a oe 171 

Division caused by Geo. Kimmel. 107 
PU IVOV NY 0 Wii ences delecnh ce es 167 

MUOTIUOIRIGI he os 5c Sass ews Arh i ai 167 

enters the Itinerancy............ 185 

preaches in Upper Milford, Pa... 190 

how he met George Yeakel...... 191 


receives a Double Eagle ($20) from 
Melchior Yeakelas Contribution 191 
ae is a at P. Wiest’s broken 


Ein antec a sete ses 196 
ree Disturbers to Court—they 
are punished ............-.... 197 
he and his Colleague very intimate 197 
attends General Conference 1830. 198 
elected Presiding Elder.......... 217 
presides at Eastern Conference... 225 
a3 6s ce a4 a 931 
Member of fifth General Conf.... 242 
Editor of Chr. Botschafter........ 242 
Collector for Publishing House... 249 
Chief Advocate of Botschafter and 
AIRES REM oreg oa a thas 9: 2 aes ata 249 
Member of sixth General Conf... 252 
Mover and President of first Miss. 
SATS Og ek a A 269 
Corresponding Sec. of Miss. Soc. 
of the Ey. Association......... 272 


Member of seventh General Conf. 293 
writes Annual Report of Miss. 


ib LSU Ne pla I gg 310 
RUAN SAA VON ogi «ds oca + «8s 347 
his View of Bishop’s Office ...... 360 
compiles a Catechism........... 358 
Member of eighth General Pare 367 

of ninth ch “ ,. 389 





Pages. 
Orwig, Rev. W. W.—Continued. 


elected again Editor of Christliche 
DOWRCHOITEl iy pedien's Gok, Mee ouied on 393 
As 
SHIA LIISA LCs sshd ay La viele be ornare 14 
Palatinates. 712, 14 
Parsonages, Building a eee 114 
PAsLOTINS ys  raliz ies gees wie can ee 12 
Paul, Jacob—Class-leader..-..-.... ae 
POUT ya WALA 4 oes honaee areheey 
Pennsylvania Gérman Dialect....17, x0 
IPGVEGQU LOM couseree nie arn sande oss 
VERUIOTICO nse saew scte eset rece oe id 
Philadelphia—Beginning of Work.. 243 
PIOTIONS/ FVOCTGRS Uo.c uss eee 255 
WHureCh OeGQICALEC woos cla nanos ake 255 
severe Trial of Work............ 316 
Philips, Rev. Jacob — Member of 
GOuTIGUSL SUS epee wad octet eee 
Cied’ 33 Are cene woh rei eer eee 102 
PTE EIGER mae cake Sisdouuee hcteiae ice rare 14 
Pioneering Missionary Work...... aw 
Pittsburg—Beginning OLN Otkueye: 371 
Pini as Classes i a aire eter ney, 52 
Political Degeneration............. 25 
PoOWerulL Preaching weys. © ease se: 76, 77 
Preacher’s License— the first, ete... 85 
Preachers—many locate........... 155 
Preaching Places—some, etc....... 12 
Prince: blectors : GtCh ives pacces oes 15 
Progress of Work—vigorous........ 309 
Brovresseslow i... cua) acs neste 55 
Protracted eee soca 244 
Public Schools—wanting, etc.... .. 32 
Bublietiniot Houses. Ae cee ae 431 
Rev. John Dreisbach buys Print- 
IngoA pparatus wSlbaLy. pont sees 431 
difficult Trip to Philadelphia..... 431 
small Deginnineg.s 2a .4 sc ee oe an 431 
Conference appoints Book Com- 
IEISSIOU er ie sorte se cate ea 432 
Solomon Miller—Chief Manager.. 432 
Picture of first Publishing House 
ASI GT eerie ne eae cetera 432 
Book Commission..............- 432 
Trustees appointed.............. 432 
different Books printed.......... 433 


Picture of 2nd Publishing House. 433 
Receipts and Dividends from 1837 . 
Tal Botoy igh 5 aia a Se ii Tareas 434 


Sete Revie hor ciclo are’nls Sra eoaee 434 

GOW EE Ae at ed cnet tien sical stele celaiae 435 
Picture of 3rd Publishing House.. 436 
Causes of Prosperity............. 436 
View of new Building 1874 ...... 437 
View of present Publ. House..... 438 

Q. 

QU AKG ees s toclawameincle coer ek ews 13-20 
Quarterly, Meetings ss... 2veeceeewes 54 
CUAKSFLOWT he oe cae ct eo en tee eet 51 


— 466 — 





Pages. Pages 
R. Revivals—Continued. 
Radenbach, Peter... 2... .c.ce aces 88| Quaker Hollow, Va.............. 344 
Reading, Pa. — Beginning of Work.. 377; Black Creek Valley, Vato 344 
Raformodst. cee: umerah tamten ee 16; Gettysburg Circuit.............. 344 
Rhenish Provintese nie ine oe orev 14] Wayne Circuit, Ohio............. 344 
Reihie; Catharine sspears pace tees 246| Greensburg, Ohioks 255 uaewel 344 
Reisner, Rev. J. Conrad........... Seneca Co. Ghio. Js, 4.5. ace 345 
preaches powerfully............. 181| Mt. Carmel, DT coupe i See 345 
Reisner’s German School-book..... 251 Mahantango Valley; Paves ss.eae 372 
Resolution against World e Con- Meyerstown, Pa ashes reps: shetena wlohe neletete aie 
formity iy Cee aa Rae pee: 148 ee a Welley, Basie seston eee 372 
, nlenberg and others 18 CUCTHOUILS Ai... tinct ke bie ee 372 
BNR confit stile 19| Milford, iy ii sinieut Unites ahaa 372 
Reports of the Work of God........ 276| Fort Wayne Mission, Ind... 1. 373 
Retrogression of the Work Leen s ken eae 153 Mt. Carmel Mission, Tl a6 vets laiwetale che 
Revivals under Wesley, Edwards Pickaw: TAY Circuit, Obia: Salat shel ate te 373 
CLO e I eR bar carictee Ais go| Sandusky Circuit, Ohio... 22... 373 
Revivalsce tat boas aoe mee Desplaines and Rock River Cir- 
on Northumberland Circuit...... 82 Rat Berney cravicnc yt 373 
Schuylkill and Lancaster Circuits 103 | Rickert, Richard steer e eee eeeees 164, 170 
York and Franklin Counties, Pa. 107 Rickert, Sam uel oleie' 6 0).0)0 00).6 is). aide: sole eee 165 
Onwigs0UTg, PAs wicsslgcaicees 161-177 Riegel, Rey. Adaia,'...- a. eu smeue 40 
ab Shrewshliny, ads. . vad beoeenet 112 | Riegels: Rev. John oo. y ase 214 
Unron Cirenits:Pakts shies eacues 181 Riegel, Rev. Jacobite it. acces opera 226 
Upper Milford’ Pa. 2.0 ce eaek ous 196 in Buftalo, N. Yoo. a owen 264 
Blockhouse Settlement.......... 198 punt at Meeting in Upper Milford, 
Hearpasnand, ODIO sssns eae eee VAC Re Oe aS errr rrr eres yt 196 
frie Onan ty ePaeasceren. se eae 220 Rioters legally punished........ 196, 197 
AV Sr TOR SAN co tadion ti Sehnert 991 | Rochester, IN. Yiiiy io: saneeaeee tT ohSiS 
among Schwenkfelders..........- 224 | Roemer, Dr. Ignatius cece et ecws eens 101 
Rear, Allentown, Palw “ss. ca ers <u 227 Roessner, Rev. J ohn, converted.... 188 
ie A ontown Passions 2o eee 3 died oa. . 247 
Hhiladel nial Nass os gies venies 243 Rupp, LD es. Meese: eae 12 
USS ak aa Cory ge 250 Ss 
Lepsnon ha, on eerenn es ates 255 : 
Lancaster’ Circuit, Pais acs 256 | Salaries—small, ete.,....... 111, 155, 195 
Ppa MN ey fais ea Se ot eho om 260 [Wall Sl A ees oh es ea 326 
Cedarville, Llinois oso paeeek% ue DUS WI ImaILeMaDICl pane aa eee 139, 141, 226 
PAVEIHOOMT ODIO’ © a ew cven ee wee 279 | Saylor, Rev. Joseph M.—converted. 165 
Dutchman’s Point, Illinois...... 305 entere sd Etinerancy, +. 22. 3 eee ee 175 
Chrys} Oo, Parga peace 315 elected Presiding Elder........... 217 
Adamstown, Manheim, etc...... 316} Committee on English Hymn- 
West Pa. Conference............ 318 DOGK 2.0.08: Raw aeie eee 219 
Schuylkill Haven and Pinegrove. 333| preaches in an Orchard.......... 226 
Biviladelphia (Pa counter. wees eee 333} Member of fifth General Cont. 242 
CTETIMANLO WN, La satwisie sin tek fos 334 cl “* eighth “e 367 
DDAPEE GX eae bene Stshict aie ats 334 ** ninth as Trt ote 
near Milwaukee, Wis............ 335] Missionary in Reading, Pa....... 377 
TVET V WETS « risciewiois oe Mle 5 bigaleece 341 | Saylor, Rey. JacoD.. va vaueua eee oe 165 
Fermantown, alee te lay ere 342 Schaefer, Rey. Absalom B.......... 
Cumberland Circuit............. 542 17 -OGonversions a. ;ac.g4)s hae 192 
Millersburg sPa ls s26 ete ieee 342; Commotion on that Account..... 193 
Schuylkill Haven, Pa............ 342| praying in the Snow...........1. 194 
Pinegraviel Pas voici. cave somes ae 342! local Preacher..... 75) Soe ee 194 
Orwigshurebacs Uke scene ee 342} Report from his Circuit.......... 257 
Lyckens Circuit; ?..e00. (Sc Father 342) Member of seventh General Conf. 293 
Phitsdelphbiavco meee 342| Success at Medina, Ohio......... 279 
Buffalo a alley oe thse ee ats ee we 343 | Remark concerning Bishop Sey- 
Columbia: Circuit. 03. ...0t ees, 343 DOrt ons eile oe ocean 289 
pusar Valleys Pas nag es wt ales 343} Secretary of eighth General Conf. 354 
Wark (lirenit ase sake 343| Member of ninth “ 389 
Baltimore Co. Mission........... 343 | Schlatter, Rev. Michael.......... 19, 20 
SATTAGLE VIG AMG; sees ones ah nies 343 Schmucker, Revs J. Gap eee 33 


— 467 — 


Pages. 

Schnerr, Rev. Jacob—converted.... 402 
enters Itinerancy,.....ceccercees 188 
Ordained Deacon ...ccsccvsve seve 203 


2 Sedan Labors in Upper Mil- 
ford, P 


Pages. 

Social Conference....... Suerte Oe eas 139 
DIGIEPAL ER LOnnc. ules ve hea cell as 139 
DSL uation ek cote eo Praicd Ce Ms 142 
WALLUYG rR cen so vatis erica re cle Rees 142 


8 | Society for exterminating Christi- 


successful Labors in err aa am ATUL WO oe tie eee ne ee 27 
Me Oe oR ce Sere at We eae ce ATAU SCLLCIN osc brah be we mcleee cee le 
ecic of fifth General Conf.... 242 Spangler, Rev. Christopher........ 71 
first Beuuee ‘Preathiatse . cc eee ee | ODaNIArG Boe. sce ace ew cee’ MOE a 
Obituary.. eeeevaes ee Spener, Philip Jacob....... mae e Rae 14 
Schultz, David.. DP eae "49, Pe vODey ela tens sealer’. « Onusere te Cotte 14 
Schuylkill River. .. ces PoUsbencese nous IOsopmolas. coe 14 
Schwenkfeld, Casper........+6.... 15 Stambach, Rev. John.. iis Bre Tas 
Schwenkfelders .. Rates se esllts 20, 30, 32 
Seybert, Henry...... BXaccis seals ok ie oe 
Seybert, Rev. John.....scccccccsee 28 
Ras WICRCCIN. 2. 0s caps cioasees epee sl co 
PONUTHICMT oF res cee hes w'e'o ee eke oe LUO 


enters Itinerancy.........se.e2- 159 
Ordaitied DeEScon..... cee sscessee LOO 

preaches Oe aM in Orwigs- 
DUTP coe Ue avis tae ies 8 sine mye ag tes 
eerie on ‘Orwigsburg Revival.. 169 
STARINCOLMIET 65 casing bas aie sc 0:0 171 
Secretary of 18th Conf. Session... 175 
elected Presiding Elder.......... 175 
sa of Annual and General a 
asides Eastern Contes. ASRS bes 
ecretary 43 . 188 
Trustee of Legacies Eastern Conf. 189 
Secretary of 194 
enters Blooming Grove, Pa., etc. 197 
regarded as being a Magician. ia re 
Secretary General Conf......... mys be 
stirs Blockhouse Settlement..... 198 
Secretary Eastern Se Ypyeseie Aga espeieg 
eee ° eee 210 
fi ce eeee Aw 
his Success in Erie Co., Pa...s..+ 220 
enters Warren, Pa.......... weeetee | 
Secretary Eastern Cont yeas wate 8 
great Success on his District..... 254 
introduces Mission Cause........ 268 
President of Parent Miss. Society. 272 
PE LEE MITOTSS oo ca ccc wcuwie cee ete s 285 
remarkable Item in his Diary.... 289 
Address to the Ministry, etc..... 290 
visits [llinois the first Time...... 335 
his extraordinary Order for det 337 
re-elected Bishop Be eteicelnatst ss ot ot 3909 
etereEPianure dost cane 388 

synoptical Report of the Work in 
RPIGAMDE A yar c's aks ss boca cs oe 390 
Report of the Work in Canada.... 408 

Signing Conference Proceedings.. 

Original Conference..... 105, 111, 115 
ee és ....118, 120, 126 
General Conference eaaes 142, 200, 242 
errs 239, 367, 389 
Sindlinger, Rev. John M..... “fh FS 315 


Snakes in Meeting........e..eee00- 216 


Stationing of Preachers 88, 101, 104 ,111, 
114, 117, 120, 126, 134, 145, 147, "150, 
153, 155, 158, 159, 171, 176, 180, 183 
185, 188, 194, 203, 210, 217, 295, 239 

MEADINUICH Ste ake gett eek: 87, 111, 114, 
117, 120, 126, 184, 145, 147, 151, 153, 
155, 158, 161, 171, 176, 180, 185, 189, 
194, 203, 211, 217, 226, 232, 242° 243° 


247, 262, 284, 322, 339, 346, 370, 373, 
380, 382, 383. 384, 386, 391, 393, 394 
Stetzel, Reve Henry sos vactas seas ee 51 
PStriweler sen ihe es 78, 168 
Sunday-Schools.. Sop sieges tee c 
first in the West........ ewca ss ence 
T. 
Temporal Economy selceataeiens Caren ee 286 
hirty; Years Wares vests veces 13-14 
Thomas, Rev. David — converted.. 103 
preaches John Walter’s Funeral 
PETITE aL ute sates es heed oan 149 
LUM ete eee cies aceon e wires cre ate 14 
Tobacco Resolution, etc........... 273 
Tom Paine’s ‘“‘Age of Reason’’..... 27 
Triumvirate—a happy one......... 106 
Truby, Rev. Joseph, converted..... 303 
Trying Times for the Church....... 151 
Turnpike—the HIB OLC Was sens wee os 
(5s 
Unchurching the Ey. Association... 59 
Ungodly Narrowness.............: 22 
oe Brethren in Christ...35, 41, 138 
Upper Milford, Pa., great Awaken- 
Ieee ae hae bite ee ke Scale en eee 196 
Progress and Persecution........ 218 
Conversion of Schwenkfelders.... 223 
Church decdicatedss:t fveccns wieees 279 
Mission Auxiliary formed........ 301 
List of Preachers gone forth..... 213 
Va 
Van Gunten, Rev. Samuel—enters 
FARO ATICYs is aioe Seenee nes a slecae 225 
Dapp Deaton. usa secsr ss coset 305 
Vogelbach, Rey. Jacob—reports Re- 
vival at Lebanon, Pa.......... 256 
withdraws from Church......... 316 


— 468 — 


Pages, Pages, 
WwW. rey. RORS Ea eee Oe wee ase ee 189 
turbance o OrehIPs sid cw aere 96 
Wagner, Christopher..........eee- 165 9 DP 
Rveodees Rev. Philip entered Itiner- eee Bevo Retel, AB DOU oO tae 261 
ANCY aeas ve ha aiee eee eee eae aes LDS thei ob Ceriee” ory ot ain eee 
SS rata DGaCOD anh teas ee eae 171 WWoe Pa., Beginning of 197 
ordained JHlder sty diclenassns eee ss 180 bare ac ers a ahh Tage nn 
elected Presiding Elder.......... 183 Wisconsin entered by Rev. J. Lutz. 314 
Mara bat lot Fiche General Cont. 949 first. Classformied is 052th. memes 314 
at Ce PERN AR 959 | Witt, Rev. Samuel—Obituary...... 339 
cc of seventh (74 6é i "* 993 Womelsdorf, Pa cee eee e wee eoe ores oees 13 
éc of eignth é 74 367 Wolf eat ee ee ee ee 99 
+ of ninthed ck & "999 a) ev Tistiall cscs Sees 116 
Wolves in Sheepsclothing......... 29 
vale one HEN A SEs Rik ke scegedh cs 51, be Wore 14 
alter’ s:Class. dacslewds o' oie.e Boe OO Ee eye tol els at en eee ace aan aed 
Welter, Rey: al OLN shy caiees say 8 oss a pert Rev. J. F., Fraternal Dele- 261 
DeSCOD asi sis aeice eins cia sae ae nisi 5 EAS, Ok | Pee as day ‘ 
WONVETRION -aniGss dees cune ae tke saa 53 Wyoming Valley....-.+.+++s++00. 18 
goes with Albright to Lancaster 26 
(IG 2WE Magy alee ek syste wk he er iye 53'| Yale, College, v.37: sac. ee aa eae 27 
becomes an Exhorter........ ..++ 53 Yeakel, ClEOTSE: Sik «ae 189-190 
commences to preach.......-..6- 53 Rey. Andrew...... 209, 223, 266 
Hiss NO MANCAMOD Sal .52% see 9s o's 54 — Abralani... 2. tc. teeee 219 
spells Hymn and Text........... 54 Charles ices. a5 cee 229, 246 
becomes one of the greatest ¥ J STEM IAD so, eine seis sa eee 301 
PEGACUOIS otra. sins ad specail ene 54 . Rev. Jesse........; 218, 379 
ESOT GAR LIUILACTC cee eatin caves susie mis 54 5 aaa 
what W. W. Orwig says of him.. 54 : 
what Dr. Schmucker and others “i EASES END Révilic. . 2. eee 111 
BALL J ecestad ote are ios aie eae al enerara ent one o entered Itinerancy...........-.- 111 
attends “Council Meeting’ in1808 56] ordained Deacon................ 117 
assists in ordaining Albright Daatee 57 ce Elder sicveh caste 134 
preaches at Times “for two Hours. 77 Delegate to first General Conf.... 135 
preaches powerfully Atos big ODICUATY:. <1 > ac sacle tee eee "393 
Meeting”. .... sss. 2 eee eeeee $l) Zinser, Key. John Gy... ... ss cee ee 188 
enters into a written covenant enters [tineérancy.....2....stee 188 
with Albright and Miller...... 82] ordained Deacon... ...2 22.0. sem 203 
nee Rue a compile Discipline He begins the Work at Cedar Creek 
is ordaine OLR ay srcies 0 evreee Disp ssis-c.v ogbeb ss g Suueye Sousa 204 
ITOAIR) BELL cise lsre ers Meee ea le eee mx ae 106). discomfits’a Parson .4t. seen 204 
publishes a Hymn-Book......... 106) elected Presiding Elder.......... 225 
John Erb’s Letter to him....... 112 how he travels In :1836::2, 5 cress ei 233 
retires from Itinerancy.......... 119 s {  / ASSO cake ae 280 
his last sermon at a Campmeeting 127| Secretary of fifth General Conf... 237 
ae aeraaT able Prophecy sc. cncn ae Member of sixth General Conf. . 252 
TC IES Ga'sint.a'aiopt-aaisiaie af Siataals Aitiers : seventh ‘ .. 293 
Character and Testimonies...... 149| visits Illinois as Presiding Elder.. 821 
Walz, Rev. John—Conversion...... 394, his District, 2000 miles.......... 322 
SS Expenses Suis x tects oe Minne ea a Member of eighth General Cont. . 367 
AEA ONOT gis staat seta 4 cate sa ee nint 389 
Washington, Gen. Geo........ 25, 26, 28} apppointed Editor Chr. Botschafter 393 
Weiser, ‘John Conrad....scsseeeees 13 | Zinzendorf, Count.?.......... 16, 20, 21 


W ieand, Daniel.. 


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